Modulation of interleukin 18 expression

ABSTRACT

Compounds, compositions and methods are provided for modulating the expression of Interleukin 18. The compositions comprise oligonucleotides, targeted to nucleic acid encoding Interleukin 18. Methods of using these compounds for modulation of Interleukin 18 expression and for diagnosis and treatment of disease associated with expression of Interleukin 18 are provided.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention provides compositions and methods for modulating the expression of Interleukin 18. In particular, this invention relates to compounds, particularly oligonucleotide compounds, which, in preferred embodiments, hybridize with nucleic acid molecules encoding Interleukin 18. Such compounds are shown herein to modulate the expression of Interleukin 18.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Inflammation is a physiological response to various stimuli such as infection or trauma that results in release of cytokines by macrophages and lymphocytes. The inflammatory response is characterized by increased capillary blood flow and permeability allowing various cells and fluid to leave the capillaries and enter the affected region resulting in swelling, redness, heat and pain. The increased capillary blood flow and permeability enables cellular and humoral components of the immune system such as cytokines and other mediators to enter the affected area and assist in the removal of bacteria and repair of connective tissues (Kulmatycki and Jamali, Cytokine, 2001, 14, 1-10).

[0003] There are many classes of cytokines such as chemokines, interleukins (IL), tumor necrosis factors (TNF), interferons (IFN), hematoproteins, colony stimulating factors as well as neurotrophins and growth factors. The interleukins have both inflammatory and anti-inflammatory activities (Kulmatycki and Jamali, Cytokine, 2001, 14, 1-10).

[0004] Interleukin 18 (also known as IL-18, interferon-gamma inducing factor, IGIF and IFN-gamma inducer) was originally identified as an interferon-gamma-inducing factor in splenocytes, hepatic lymphocytes and type 1 helper T cell clones (Sugawara, Microbes Infect., 2000, 2, 1257-1263). Interleukin 18 has been cloned (Okamura et al., Nature, 1995, 378, 88-91) and mapped to chromosome 11q22.2-q22.3 (Nolan et al., Genomics, 1998, 51, 161-163). Interleukin 18 mRNA is most abundant in pancreas, kidney and skeletal muscle with detectable levels also found in liver and lung tissues (Ushio et al., J. Immunol., 1996, 156, 4274-4279).

[0005] Nucleic acid sequences encoding interleukin 18 are disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,060,283 and Japanese Patents JP10080288 and JP10007699 (Okura et al., 2000; Shinpei et al., 1998; Takanori et al., 1998)

[0006] The gene is composed of six exons (one of which is not translated) and five introns spanning approximately 19.5 kb. The nucleotide sequences at the exon/intron junctions are in accordance with the eukaryotic splice donor-acceptor site sequence AG/GU (Kalina et al., Scand. J. Immunol., 2000, 52, 525-530).

[0007] The main coding sequence of interleukin 18 is composed of exons 1-5 (Kalina et al., Scand. J. Immunol., 2000, 52, 525-530). However, two possible mRNA variants have been isolated, one which uses exons 1-4, and a short exon 5 (exon 5a) herein designated IL-18 variant I, and one which starts within exon 2 (exon 2a), uses exons 3-4, and a short exon 5 (exon 5b) herein designated IL-18 variant II.

[0008] Interleukin 18 augments cytotoxicity of natural killer (NK) cells and proliferation of T cells. It stimulates Th₁ cells to produce interleukin 2 and interferon-gamma, an effect which is augmented in a synergistic manner by interleukin 12 (Golab, Cytokine, 2000, 12, 332-338).

[0009] Interleukin 18 knockout mice have an impaired NK cell activity, a reduced production of interferon-gamma and a diminished Th₁ response (Golab, Cytokine, 2000, 12, 332-338).

[0010] Increased levels of interleukin 18 are observed in the serum of patients with schizophrenia, pulmonary sarcoidosis, and Graves disease (Miyauchi et al., Thyroid, 2000, 10, 815-819; Shigehara et al., Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., 2000, 162, 1979-1982; Tanaka et al., Psychiatry Res., 2000, 96, 75-80) as well as the mucosal intestinal cells and lamina propria mononuclear cells from patients with Crohn's disease (Monteleone et al., J. Immunol., 1999, 163, 143-147).

[0011] Interleukin 18 has been found to increase expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) which leads to the adherence of melanoma cells, a critical step in the initiation of metastasis (Vidal-Vanaclocha et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 2000, 97, 734-739).

[0012] The inhibition of interleukin 18 may prove to be a useful strategy for therapeutic intervention in a wide variety of pathological conditions. Neutralization of interleukin 18 activity has been reported for six different isoforms of interleukin 18 binding protein (Dinarello, Ann. Rheum. Dis., 2000, 59 Suppl 1, i17-20). Dinarello has indicated that interleukin 18 binding protein may find therapeutic use for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, toxic liver damage, lupus erythematosus, Still's disease, psoriasis, graft vs host, transplant rejection, multiple sclerosis and septic shock (Dinarello, Ann. Rheum. Dis., 2000, 59 Suppl 1, i17-20).

[0013] Examples of using antibodies to inhibit interleukin 18 production and/or action are well represented in the art. For example, antibodies to interleukin 18 are disclosed and claimed in PCT publications WO 01/07480 and WO 00/56771 (Dinarello, 2001; Ho et al., 2000). Additionally disclosed and claimed in PCT publication WO 01/07489 are antagonists of interleukin 18 which compete with interleukin 18 and block the interleukin 18 receptor, and interleukin 18 binding proteins (Dinarello, 2001).

[0014] Disclosed and claimed in European patent EP974600 are artificially produced peptides capable of neutralizing the biological activities of interleukin 18, comprising a part or the whole of a variable region in an anti-interleukin 18 antibody (Nishida et al., 1999).

[0015] A functional effect of interleukin 18 on B16F10 melanoma cells has been shown by reduction of Fas ligand expression in cells treated with anti-interleukin 18 antibody or transfected with interleukin 18 antisense RNA (Cho et al., Cancer Res., 2000, 60, 2703-2709).

[0016] An interleukin 18 antisense oligonucleotide has been used to decrease expression of interleukin 18 in an investigation of effects of interleukin 18 on proliferation in the J6-1 human leukemia cell line (Wang et al., Zhonghua Yixue Zazhi (Beijing, China), 2001, 81, 597-600).

[0017] An antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotide targeting the initiation site of human interleukin 18 was used to down-regulate interleukin 18 expression in mucosal intestinal cells and lamina propria mononuclear cells from patients with Crohn's disease (Monteleone et al., J. Immunol., 1999, 163, 143-147).

[0018] Currently, there are no known therapeutic agents that effectively inhibit the synthesis of interleukin 18. To date, investigative strategies aimed at modulating interleukin 18 expression have involved the use of antibodies and gene knock-outs in mice. Consequently, there remains a long felt need for additional agents capable of effectively inhibiting interleukin 18 function.

[0019] Antisense technology is emerging as an effective means for reducing the expression of specific gene products and may therefore prove to be uniquely useful in a number of therapeutic, diagnostic, and research applications for the modulation of expression of interleukin 18.

[0020] The present invention provides compositions and methods for modulating expression of interleukin 18.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0021] The present invention is directed to compounds, especially nucleic acid and nucleic acid-like oligomers, which are targeted to a nucleic acid encoding Interleukin 18, and which modulate the expression of Interleukin 18. Pharmaceutical and other compositions comprising the compounds of the invention are also provided. Further provided are methods of screening for modulators of Interleukin 18 and methods of modulating the expression of Interleukin 18 in cells, tissues or animals comprising contacting said cells, tissues or animals with one or more of the compounds or compositions of the invention. Methods of treating an animal, particularly a human, suspected of having or being prone to a disease or condition associated with expression of Interleukin 18 are also set forth herein. Such methods comprise administering a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of one or more of the compounds or compositions of the invention to the person in need of treatment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] A. Overview of the Invention

[0023] The present invention employs compounds, preferably oligonucleotides and similar species for use in modulating the function or effect of nucleic acid molecules encoding Interleukin 18. This is accomplished by providing oligonucleotides which specifically hybridize with one or more nucleic acid molecules encoding Interleukin 18. As used herein, the terms “target nucleic acid” and “nucleic acid molecule encoding Interleukin 18” have been used for convenience to encompass DNA encoding Interleukin 18, RNA (including pre-mRNA and mRNA or portions thereof) transcribed from such DNA, and also cDNA derived from such RNA. The hybridization of a compound of this invention with its target nucleic acid is generally referred to as “antisense”. Consequently, the preferred mechanism believed to be included in the practice of some preferred embodiments of the invention is referred to herein as “antisense inhibition.” Such antisense inhibition is typically based upon hydrogen bonding-based hybridization of oligonucleotide strands or segments such that at least one strand or segment is cleaved, degraded, or otherwise rendered inoperable. In this regard, it is presently preferred to target specific nucleic acid molecules and their functions for such antisense inhibition.

[0024] The functions of DNA to be interfered with can include replication and transcription. Replication and transcription, for example, can be from an endogenous cellular template, a vector, a plasmid construct or otherwise. The functions of RNA to be interfered with can include functions such as translocation of the RNA to a site of protein translation, translocation of the RNA to sites within the cell which are distant from the site of RNA synthesis, translation of protein from the RNA, splicing of the RNA to yield one or more RNA species, and catalytic activity or complex formation involving the RNA which may be engaged in or facilitated by the RNA. One preferred result of such interference with target nucleic acid function is modulation of the expression of Interleukin 18. In the context of the present invention, “modulation” and “modulation of expression” mean either an increase (stimulation) or a decrease (inhibition) in the amount or levels of a nucleic acid molecule encoding the gene, e.g., DNA or RNA. Inhibition is often the preferred form of modulation of expression and mRNA is often a preferred target nucleic acid.

[0025] In the context of this invention, “hybridization” means the pairing of complementary strands of oligomeric compounds. In the present invention, the preferred mechanism of pairing involves hydrogen bonding, which may be Watson-Crick, Hoogsteen or reversed Hoogsteen hydrogen bonding, between complementary nucleoside or nucleotide bases (nucleobases) of the strands of oligomeric compounds. For example, adenine and thymine are complementary nucleobases which pair through the formation of hydrogen bonds. Hybridization can occur under varying circumstances.

[0026] An antisense compound is specifically hybridizable when binding of the compound to the target nucleic acid interferes with the normal function of the target nucleic acid to cause a loss of activity, and there is a sufficient degree of complementarity to avoid non-specific binding of the antisense compound to non-target nucleic acid sequences under conditions in which specific binding is desired, i.e., under physiological conditions in the case of in vivo assays or therapeutic treatment, and under conditions in which assays are performed in the case of in vitro assays.

[0027] In the present invention the phrase “stringent hybridization conditions” or “stringent conditions” refers to conditions under which a compound of the invention will hybridize to its target sequence, but to a minimal number of other sequences. Stringent conditions are sequence-dependent and will be different in different circumstances and in the context of this invention, “stringent conditions” under which oligomeric compounds hybridize to a target sequence are determined by the nature and composition of the oligomeric compounds and the assays in which they are being investigated.

[0028] “Complementary,” as used herein, refers to the capacity for precise pairing between two nucleobases of an oligomeric compound. For example, if a nucleobase at a certain position of an oligonucleotide (an oligomeric compound), is capable of hydrogen bonding with a nucleobase at a certain position of a target nucleic acid, said target nucleic acid being a DNA, RNA, or oligonucleotide molecule, then the position of hydrogen bonding between the oligonucleotide and the target nucleic acid is considered to be a complementary position. The oligonucleotide and the further DNA, RNA, or oligonucleotide molecule are complementary to each other when a sufficient number of complementary positions in each molecule are occupied by nucleobases which can hydrogen bond with each other. Thus, “specifically hybridizable” and “complementary” are terms which are used to indicate a sufficient degree of precise pairing or complementarity over a sufficient number of nucleobases such that stable and specific binding occurs between the oligonucleotide and a target nucleic acid.

[0029] It is understood in the art that the sequence of an antisense compound need not be 100% complementary to that of its target nucleic acid to be specifically hybridizable. Moreover, an oligonucleotide may hybridize over one or more segments such that intervening or adjacent segments are not involved in the hybridization event (e.g., a loop structure or hairpin structure). It is preferred that the antisense compounds of the present invention comprise at least 70% sequence complementarity to a target region within the target nucleic acid, more preferably that they comprise 90% sequence complementarity and even more preferably comprise 95% sequence complementarity to the target region within the target nucleic acid sequence to which they are targeted. For example, an antisense compound in which 18 of 20 nucleobases of the antisense compound are complementary to a target region, and would therefore specifically hybridize, would represent 90 percent complementarity. In this example, the remaining noncomplementary nucleobases may be clustered or interspersed with complementary nucleobases and need not be contiguous to each other or to complementary nucleobases. As such, an antisense compound which is 18 nucleobases in length having 4 (four) noncomplementary nucleobases which are flanked by two regions of complete complementarity with the target nucleic acid would have 77.8% overall complementarity with the target nucleic acid and would thus fall within the scope of the present invention. Percent complementarity of an antisense compound with a region of a target nucleic acid can be determined routinely using BLAST programs (basic local alignment search tools) and PowerBLAST programs known in the art (Altschul et al., J. Mol. Biol., 1990, 215, 403-410; Zhang and Madden, Genome Res., 1997, 7, 649-656).

[0030] B. Compounds of the Invention

[0031] According to the present invention, compounds include antisense oligomeric compounds, antisense oligonucleotides, ribozymes, external guide sequence (EGS) oligonucleotides, alternate splicers, primers, probes, and other oligomeric compounds which hybridize to at least a portion of the target nucleic acid. As such, these compounds may be introduced in the form of single-stranded, double-stranded, circular or hairpin oligomeric compounds and may contain structural elements such as internal or terminal bulges or loops. Once introduced to a system, the compounds of the invention may elicit the action of one or more enzymes or structural proteins to effect modification of the target nucleic acid. One non-limiting example of such an enzyme is RNAse H, a cellular endonuclease which cleaves the RNA strand of an RNA:DNA duplex. It is known in the art that single-stranded antisense compounds which are “DNA-like” elicit RNAse H. Activation of RNase H, therefore, results in cleavage of the RNA target, thereby greatly enhancing the efficiency of oligonucleotide-mediated inhibition of gene expression. Similar roles have been postulated for other ribonucleases such as those in the RNase III and ribonuclease L family of enzymes.

[0032] While the preferred form of antisense compound is a single-stranded antisense oligonucleotide, in many species the introduction of double-stranded structures, such as double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules, has been shown to induce potent and specific antisense-mediated reduction of the function of a gene or its associated gene products. This phenomenon occurs in both plants and animals and is believed to have an evolutionary connection to viral defense and transposon silencing.

[0033] The first evidence that dsRNA could lead to gene silencing in animals came in 1995 from work in the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans (Guo and Kempheus, Cell, 1995, 81, 611-620). Montgomery et al. have shown that the primary interference effects of dsRNA are posttranscriptional (Montgomery et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1998, 95, 15502-15507). The posttranscriptional antisense mechanism defined in Caenorhabditis elegans resulting from exposure to double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) has since been designated RNA interference (RNAi). This term has been generalized to mean antisense-mediated gene silencing involving the introduction of dsRNA leading to the sequence-specific reduction of endogenous targeted mRNA levels (Fire et al., Nature, 1998, 391, 806-811). Recently, it has been shown that it is, in fact, the single-stranded RNA oligomers of antisense polarity of the dsRNAs which are the potent inducers of RNAi (Tijsterman et al., Science, 2002, 295, 694-697).

[0034] In the context of this invention, the term “oligomeric compound” refers to a polymer or oligomer comprising a plurality of monomeric units. In the context of this invention, the term “oligonucleotide” refers to an oligomer or polymer of ribonucleic acid (RNA) or deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or mimetics, chimeras, analogs and homologs thereof. This term includes oligonucleotides composed of naturally occurring nucleobases, sugars and covalent internucleoside (backbone) linkages as well as oligonucleotides having non-naturally occurring portions which function similarly. Such modified or substituted oligonucleotides are often preferred over native forms because of desirable properties such as, for example, enhanced cellular uptake, enhanced affinity for a target nucleic acid and increased stability in the presence of nucleases.

[0035] While oligonucleotides are a preferred form of the compounds of this invention, the present invention comprehends other families of compounds as well, including but not limited to oligonucleotide analogs and mimetics such as those described herein.

[0036] The compounds in accordance with this invention preferably comprise from about 8 to about 80 nucleobases (i.e. from about 8 to about 80 linked nucleosides). One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the invention embodies compounds of 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, or 80 nucleobases in length.

[0037] In one preferred embodiment, the compounds of the invention are 12 to 50 nucleobases in length. One having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that this embodies compounds of 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, or 50 nucleobases in length.

[0038] In another preferred embodiment, the compounds of the invention are 15 to 30 nucleobases in length. One having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that this embodies compounds of 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, or 30 nucleobases in length.

[0039] Particularly preferred compounds are oligonucleotides from about 12 to about 50 nucleobases, even more preferably those comprising from about 15 to about 30 nucleobases.

[0040] Antisense compounds 8-80 nucleobases in length comprising a stretch of at least eight (8) consecutive nucleobases selected from within the illustrative antisense compounds are considered to be suitable antisense compounds as well.

[0041] Exemplary preferred antisense compounds include oligonucleotide sequences that comprise at least the 8 consecutive nucleobases from the 5′-terminus of one of the illustrative preferred antisense compounds (the remaining nucleobases being a consecutive stretch of the same oligonucleotide beginning immediately upstream of the 5′-terminus of the antisense compound which is specifically hybridizable to the target nucleic acid and continuing until the oligonucleotide contains about 8 to about 80 nucleobases). Similarly preferred antisense compounds are represented by oligonucleotide sequences that comprise at least the 8 consecutive nucleobases from the 3′-terminus of one of the illustrative preferred antisense compounds (the remaining nucleobases being a consecutive stretch of the same oligonucleotide beginning immediately downstream of the 3′-terminus of the antisense compound which is specifically hybridizable to the target nucleic acid and continuing until the oligonucleotide contains about 8 to about 80 nucleobases). One having skill in the art armed with the preferred antisense compounds illustrated herein will be able, without undue experimentation, to identify further preferred antisense compounds.

[0042] C. Targets of the Invention

[0043] “Targeting” an antisense compound to a particular nucleic acid molecule, in the context of this invention, can be a multistep process. The process usually begins with the identification of a target nucleic acid whose function is to be modulated. This target nucleic acid may be, for example, a cellular gene (or mRNA transcribed from the gene) whose expression is associated with a particular disorder or disease state, or a nucleic acid molecule from an infectious agent. In the present invention, the target nucleic acid encodes Interleukin 18.

[0044] The targeting process usually also includes determination of at least one target region, segment, or site within the target nucleic acid for the antisense interaction to occur such that the desired effect, e.g., modulation of expression, will result. Within the context of the present invention, the term “region” is defined as a portion of the target nucleic acid having at least one identifiable structure, function, or characteristic. Within regions of target nucleic acids are segments. “Segments” are defined as smaller or sub-portions of regions within a target nucleic acid. “Sites,” as used in the present invention, are defined as positions within a target nucleic acid.

[0045] Since, as is known in the art, the translation initiation codon is typically 5′-AUG (in transcribed mRNA molecules; 5′-ATG in the corresponding DNA molecule), the translation initiation codon is also referred to as the “AUG codon,” the “start codon” or the “AUG start codon”. A minority of genes have a translation initiation codon having the RNA sequence 5′-GUG, 5′-UUG or 5′-CUG, and 5′-AUA, 5′-ACG and 5′-CUG have been shown to function in vivo. Thus, the terms “translation initiation codon” and “start codon” can encompass many codon sequences, even though the initiator amino acid in each instance is typically methionine (in eukaryotes) or formylmethionine (in prokaryotes). It is also known in the art that eukaryotic and prokaryotic genes may have two or more alternative start codons, any one of which may be preferentially utilized for translation initiation in a particular cell type or tissue, or under a particular set of conditions. In the context of the invention, “start codon” and “translation initiation codon” refer to the codon or codons that are used in vivo to initiate translation of an mRNA transcribed from a gene encoding Interleukin 18, regardless of the sequence(s) of such codons. It is also known in the art that a translation termination codon (or “stop codon”) of a gene may have one of three sequences, i.e., 5′-UAA, 5′-UAG and 5′-UGA (the corresponding DNA sequences are 5′-TAA, 5′-TAG and 5′-TGA, respectively).

[0046] The terms “start codon region” and “translation initiation codon region” refer to a portion of such an mRNA or gene that encompasses from about 25 to about 50 contiguous nucleotides in either direction (i.e., 5′ or 3′) from a translation initiation codon. Similarly, the terms “stop codon region” and “translation termination codon region” refer to a portion of such an mRNA or gene that encompasses from about 25 to about 50 contiguous nucleotides in either direction (i.e., 5′ or 3′) from a translation termination codon. Consequently, the “start codon region” (or “translation initiation codon region”) and the “stop codon region” (or “translation termination codon region”) are all regions which may be targeted effectively with the antisense compounds of the present invention.

[0047] The open reading frame (ORF) or “coding region,” which is known in the art to refer to the region between the translation initiation codon and the translation termination codon, is also a region which may be targeted effectively. Within the context of the present invention, a preferred region is the intragenic region encompassing the translation initiation or termination codon of the open reading frame (ORF) of a gene.

[0048] Other target regions include the 5′ untranslated region (5′UTR), known in the art to refer to the portion of an mRNA in the 5′ direction from the translation initiation codon, and thus including nucleotides between the 5′ cap site and the translation initiation codon of an mRNA (or corresponding nucleotides on the gene), and the 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR), known in the art to refer to the portion of an mRNA in the 3′ direction from the translation termination codon, and thus including nucleotides between the translation termination codon and 3′ end of an mRNA (or corresponding nucleotides on the gene). The 5′ cap site of an mRNA comprises an N7-methylated guanosine residue joined to the 5′-most residue of the mRNA via a 5′-5′ triphosphate linkage. The 5′ cap region of an mRNA is considered to include the 5′ cap structure itself as well as the first 50 nucleotides adjacent to the cap site. It is also preferred to target the 5′ cap region.

[0049] Although some eukaryotic mRNA transcripts are directly translated, many contain one or more regions, known as “introns,” which are excised from a transcript before it is translated. The remaining (and therefore translated) regions are known as “exons” and are spliced together to form a continuous mRNA sequence. Targeting splice sites, i.e., intron-exon junctions or exon-intron junctions, may also be particularly useful in situations where aberrant splicing is implicated in disease, or where an overproduction of a particular splice product is implicated in disease. Aberrant fusion junctions due to rearrangements or deletions are also preferred target sites. mRNA transcripts produced via the process of splicing of two (or more) mRNAs from different gene sources are known as “fusion transcripts”. It is also known that introns can be effectively targeted using antisense compounds targeted to, for example, DNA or pre-mRNA.

[0050] It is also known in the art that alternative RNA transcripts can be produced from the same genomic region of DNA. These alternative transcripts are generally known as “variants”. More specifically, “pre-mRNA variants” are transcripts produced from the same genomic DNA that differ from other transcripts produced from the same genomic DNA in either their start or stop position and contain both intronic and exonic sequence.

[0051] Upon excision of one or more exon or intron regions, or portions thereof during splicing, pre-mRNA variants produce smaller “mRNA variants”. Consequently, mRNA variants are processed pre-mRNA variants and each unique pre-mRNA variant must always produce a unique mRNA variant as a result of splicing. These mRNA variants are also known as “alternative splice variants”. If no splicing of the pre-mRNA variant occurs then the pre-mRNA variant is identical to the mRNA variant.

[0052] It is also known in the art that variants can be produced through the use of alternative signals to start or stop transcription and that pre-mRNAs and mRNAs can possess more that one start codon or stop codon. Variants that originate from a pre-mRNA or mRNA that use alternative start codons are known as “alternative start variants” of that pre-mRNA or mRNA. Those transcripts that use an alternative stop codon are known as “alternative stop variants” of that pre-mRNA or mRNA. One specific type of alternative stop variant is the “polyA variant” in which the multiple transcripts produced result from the alternative selection of one of the “polyA stop signals” by the transcription machinery, thereby producing transcripts that terminate at unique polyA sites. Within the context of the invention, the types of variants described herein are also preferred target nucleic acids.

[0053] The locations on the target nucleic acid to which the preferred antisense compounds hybridize are hereinbelow referred to as “preferred target segments.” As used herein the term “preferred target segment” is defined as at least an 8-nucleobase portion of a target region to which an active antisense compound is targeted. While not wishing to be bound by theory, it is presently believed that these target segments represent portions of the target nucleic acid which are accessible for hybridization.

[0054] While the specific sequences of certain preferred target segments are set forth herein, one of skill in the art will recognize that these serve to illustrate and describe particular embodiments within the scope of the present invention. Additional preferred target segments may be identified by one having ordinary skill.

[0055] Target segments 8-80 nucleobases in length comprising a stretch of at least eight (8) consecutive nucleobases selected from within the illustrative preferred target segments are considered to be suitable for targeting as well.

[0056] Target segments can include DNA or RNA sequences that comprise at least the 8 consecutive nucleobases from the 5′-terminus of one of the illustrative preferred target segments (the remaining nucleobases being a consecutive stretch of the same DNA or RNA beginning immediately upstream of the 5′-terminus of the target segment and continuing until the DNA or RNA contains about 8 to about 80 nucleobases). Similarly preferred target segments are represented by DNA or RNA sequences that comprise at least the 8 consecutive nucleobases from the 3′-terminus of one of the illustrative preferred target segments (the remaining nucleobases being a consecutive stretch of the same DNA or RNA beginning immediately downstream of the 3′-terminus of the target segment and continuing until the DNA or RNA contains about 8 to about 80 nucleobases). One having skill in the art armed with the preferred target segments illustrated herein will be able, without undue experimentation, to identify further preferred target segments.

[0057] Once one or more target regions, segments or sites have been identified, antisense compounds are chosen which are sufficiently complementary to the target, i.e., hybridize sufficiently well and with sufficient specificity, to give the desired effect.

[0058] D. Screening and Target Validation

[0059] In a further embodiment, the “preferred target segments” identified herein may be employed in a screen for additional compounds that modulate the expression of Interleukin 18. “Modulators” are those compounds that decrease or increase the expression of a nucleic acid molecule encoding Interleukin 18 and which comprise at least an 8-nucleobase portion which is complementary to a preferred target segment. The screening method comprises the steps of contacting a preferred target segment of a nucleic acid molecule encoding Interleukin 18 with one or more candidate modulators, and selecting for one or more candidate modulators which decrease or increase the expression of a nucleic acid molecule encoding Interleukin 18. Once it is shown that the candidate modulator or modulators are capable of modulating (e.g. either decreasing or increasing) the expression of a nucleic acid molecule encoding Interleukin 18, the modulator may then be employed in further investigative studies of the function of Interleukin 18, or for use as a research, diagnostic, or therapeutic agent in accordance with the present invention.

[0060] The preferred target segments of the present invention may be also be combined with their respective complementary antisense compounds of the present invention to form stabilized double-stranded (duplexed) oligonucleotides.

[0061] Such double stranded oligonucleotide moieties have been shown in the art to modulate target expression and regulate translation as well as RNA processsing via an antisense mechanism. Moreover, the double-stranded moieties may be subject to chemical modifications (Fire et al., Nature, 1998, 391, 806-811; Timmons and Fire, Nature 1998, 395, 854; Timmons et al., Gene, 2001, 263, 103-112; Tabara et al., Science, 1998, 282, 430-431; Montgomery et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1998, 95, 15502-15507; Tuschl et al., Genes Dev., 1999, 13, 3191-3197; Elbashir et al., Nature, 2001, 411, 494-498; Elbashir et al., Genes Dev. 2001, 15, 188-200). For example, such double-stranded moieties have been shown to inhibit the target by the classical hybridization of antisense strand of the duplex to the target, thereby triggering enzymatic degradation of the target (Tijsterman et al., Science, 2002, 295, 694-697).

[0062] The compounds of the present invention can also be applied in the areas of drug discovery and target validation. The present invention comprehends the use of the compounds and preferred target segments identified herein in drug discovery efforts to elucidate relationships that exist between Interleukin 18 and a disease state, phenotype, or condition. These methods include detecting or modulating Interleukin 18 comprising contacting a sample, tissue, cell, or organism with the compounds of the present invention, measuring the nucleic acid or protein level of Interleukin 18 and/or a related phenotypic or chemical endpoint at some time after treatment, and optionally comparing the measured value to a non-treated sample or sample treated with a further compound of the invention. These methods can also be performed in parallel or in combination with other experiments to determine the function of unknown genes for the process of target validation or to determine the validity of a particular gene product as a target for treatment or prevention of a particular disease, condition, or phenotype.

[0063] E. Kits, Research Reagents, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics

[0064] The compounds of the present invention can be utilized for diagnostics, therapeutics, prophylaxis and as research reagents and kits. Furthermore, antisense oligonucleotides, which are able to inhibit gene expression with exquisite specificity, are often used by those of ordinary skill to elucidate the function of particular genes or to distinguish between functions of various members of a biological pathway.

[0065] For use in kits and diagnostics, the compounds of the present invention, either alone or in combination with other compounds or therapeutics, can be used as tools in differential and/or combinatorial analyses to elucidate expression patterns of a portion or the entire complement of genes expressed within cells and tissues.

[0066] As one nonlimiting example, expression patterns within cells or tissues treated with one or more antisense compounds are compared to control cells or tissues not treated with antisense compounds and the patterns produced are analyzed for differential levels of gene expression as they pertain, for example, to disease association, signaling pathway, cellular localization, expression level, size, structure or function of the genes examined. These analyses can be performed on stimulated or unstimulated cells and in the presence or absence of other compounds which affect expression patterns.

[0067] Examples of methods of gene expression analysis known in the art include DNA arrays or microarrays (Brazma and Vilo, FEBS Lett., 2000, 480, 17-24; Celis, et al., FEBS Lett., 2000, 480, 2-16), SAGE (serial analysis of gene expression)(Madden, et al., Drug Discov. Today, 2000, 5, 415-425), READS (restriction enzyme amplification of digested cDNAs) (Prashar and Weissman, Methods Enzymol., 1999, 303, 258-72), TOGA (total gene expression analysis) (Sutcliffe, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 2000, 97, 1976-81), protein arrays and proteomics (Celis, et al., FEBS Lett., 2000, 480, 2-16; Jungblut, et al., Electrophoresis, 1999, 20, 2100-10), expressed sequence tag (EST) sequencing (Celis, et al., FEBS Lett., 2000, 480, 2-16; Larsson, et al., J. Biotechnol., 2000, 80, 143-57), subtractive RNA fingerprinting (SuRF) (Fuchs, et al., Anal. Biochem., 2000, 286, 91-98; Larson, et al., Cytometry, 2000, 41, 203-208), subtractive cloning, differential display (DD) (Jurecic and Belmont, Curr. Opin. Microbiol., 2000, 3, 316-21), comparative genomic hybridization (Carulli, et al., J. Cell Biochem. Suppl., 1998, 31, 286-96), FISH (fluorescent in situ hybridization) techniques (Going and Gusterson, Eur. J. Cancer, 1999, 35, 1895-904) and mass spectrometry methods (To, Comb. Chem. High Throughput Screen, 2000, 3, 235-41).

[0068] The compounds of the invention are useful for research and diagnostics, because these compounds hybridize to nucleic acids encoding Interleukin 18. For example, oligonucleotides that are shown to hybridize with such efficiency and under such conditions as disclosed herein as to be effective Interleukin 18 inhibitors will also be effective primers or probes under conditions favoring gene amplification or detection, respectively. These primers and probes are useful in methods requiring the specific detection of nucleic acid molecules encoding Interleukin 18 and in the amplification of said nucleic acid molecules for detection or for use in further studies of Interleukin 18. Hybridization of the antisense oligonucleotides, particularly the primers and probes, of the invention with a nucleic acid encoding Interleukin 18 can be detected by means known in the art. Such means may include conjugation of an enzyme to the oligonucleotide, radiolabelling of the oligonucleotide or any other suitable detection means. Kits using such detection means for detecting the level of Interleukin 18 in a sample may also be prepared.

[0069] The specificity and sensitivity of antisense is also harnessed by those of skill in the art for therapeutic uses. Antisense compounds have been employed as therapeutic moieties in the treatment of disease states in animals, including humans. Antisense oligonucleotide drugs, including ribozymes, have been safely and effectively administered to humans and numerous clinical trials are presently underway. It is thus established that antisense compounds can be useful therapeutic modalities that can be configured to be useful in treatment regimes for the treatment of cells, tissues and animals, especially humans.

[0070] For therapeutics, an animal, preferably a human, suspected of having a disease or disorder which can be treated by modulating the expression of Interleukin 18 is treated by administering antisense compounds in accordance with this invention. For example, in one non-limiting embodiment, the methods comprise the step of administering to the animal in need of treatment, a therapeutically effective amount of a Interleukin 18 inhibitor. The Interleukin 18 inhibitors of the present invention effectively inhibit the activity of the Interleukin 18 protein or inhibit the expression of the Interleukin 18 protein. In one embodiment, the activity or expression of Interleukin 18 in an animal is inhibited by about 10%. Preferably, the activity or expression of Interleukin 18 in an animal is inhibited by about 30%. More preferably, the activity or expression of Interleukin 18 in an animal is inhibited by 50% or more.

[0071] For example, the reduction of the expression of Interleukin 18 may be measured in serum, adipose tissue, liver or any other body fluid, tissue or organ of the animal. Preferably, the cells contained within said fluids, tissues or organs being analyzed contain a nucleic acid molecule encoding Interleukin 18 protein and/or the Interleukin 18 protein itself.

[0072] The compounds of the invention can be utilized in pharmaceutical compositions by adding an effective amount of a compound to a suitable pharmaceutically acceptable diluent or carrier. Use of the compounds and methods of the invention may also be useful prophylactically.

[0073] F. Modifications

[0074] As is known in the art, a nucleoside is a base-sugar combination. The base portion of the nucleoside is normally a heterocyclic base. The two most common classes of such heterocyclic bases are the purines and the pyrimidines. Nucleotides are nucleosides that further include a phosphate group covalently linked to the sugar portion of the nucleoside. For those nucleosides that include a pentofuranosyl sugar, the phosphate group can be linked to either the 2′, 3′ or 5′ hydroxyl moiety of the sugar. In forming oligonucleotides, the phosphate groups covalently link adjacent nucleosides to one another to form a linear polymeric compound. In turn, the respective ends of this linear polymeric compound can be further joined to form a circular compound, however, linear compounds are generally preferred. In addition, linear compounds may have internal nucleobase complementarity and may therefore fold in a manner as to produce a fully or partially double-stranded compound. Within oligonucleotides, the phosphate groups are commonly referred to as forming the internucleoside backbone of the oligonucleotide. The normal linkage or backbone of RNA and DNA is a 3′ to 5′ phosphodiester linkage.

[0075] Modified Internucleoside Linkages (Backbones)

[0076] Specific examples of preferred antisense compounds useful in this invention include oligonucleotides containing modified backbones or non-natural internucleoside linkages. As defined in this specification, oligonucleotides having modified backbones include those that retain a phosphorus atom in the backbone and those that do not have a phosphorus atom in the backbone. For the purposes of this specification, and as sometimes referenced in the art, modified oligonucleotides that do not have a phosphorus atom in their internucleoside backbone can also be considered to be oligonucleosides.

[0077] Preferred modified oligonucleotide backbones containing a phosphorus atom therein include, for example, phosphorothioates, chiral phosphorothioates, phosphorodithioates, phosphotriesters, aminoalkylphosphotriesters, methyl and other alkyl phosphonates including 3′-alkylene phosphonates, 5′-alkylene phosphonates and chiral phosphonates, phosphinates, phosphoramidates including 3′-amino phosphoramidate and aminoalkylphosphoramidates, thionophosphoramidates, thionoalkylphosphonates, thionoalkylphosphotriesters, selenophosphates and boranophosphates having normal 3′-5′ linkages, 2′-5′ linked analogs of these, and those having inverted polarity wherein one or more internucleotide linkages is a 3′ to 3′, 5′ to 5′ or 2′ to 2′ linkage. Preferred oligonucleotides having inverted polarity comprise a single 3′ to 3′ linkage at the 3′-most internucleotide linkage i.e. a single inverted nucleoside residue which may be abasic (the nucleobase is missing or has a hydroxyl group in place thereof). Various salts, mixed salts and free acid forms are also included.

[0078] Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of the above phosphorus-containing linkages include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos.: 3,687,808; 4,469,863; 4,476,301; 5,023,243; 5,177,196; 5,188,897; 5,264,423; 5,276,019; 5,278,302; 5,286,717; 5,321,131; 5,399,676; 5,405,939; 5,453,496; 5,455,233; 5,466,677; 5,476,925; 5,519,126; 5,536,821; 5,541,306; 5,550,111; 5,563,253; 5,571,799; 5,587,361; 5,194,599; 5,565,555; 5,527,899; 5,721,218; 5,672,697 and 5,625,050, certain of which are commonly owned with this application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference.

[0079] Preferred modified oligonucleotide backbones that do not include a phosphorus atom therein have backbones that are formed by short chain alkyl or cycloalkyl internucleoside linkages, mixed heteroatom and alkyl or cycloalkyl internucleoside linkages, or one or more short chain heteroatomic or heterocyclic internucleoside linkages. These include those having morpholino linkages (formed in part from the sugar portion of a nucleoside); siloxane backbones; sulfide, sulfoxide and sulfone backbones; formacetyl and thioformacetyl backbones; methylene formacetyl and thioformacetyl backbones; riboacetyl backbones; alkene containing backbones; sulfamate backbones; methyleneimino and methylenehydrazino backbones; sulfonate and sulfonamide backbones; amide backbones; and others having mixed N, O, S and CH₂ component parts.

[0080] Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of the above oligonucleosides include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos.: 5,034,506; 5,166,315; 5,185,444; 5,214,134; 5,216,141; 5,235,033; 5,264,562; 5,264,564; 5,405,938; 5,434,257; 5,466,677; 5,470,967; 5,489,677; 5,541,307; 5,561,225; 5,596,086; 5,602,240; 5,610,289; 5,602,240; 5,608,046; 5,610,289; 5,618,704; 5,623,070; 5,663,312; 5,633,360; 5,677,437; 5,792,608; 5,646,269 and 5,677,439, certain of which are commonly owned with this application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference.

[0081] Modified Sugar and Internucleoside Linkages-Mimetics

[0082] In other preferred oligonucleotide mimetics, both the sugar and the internucleoside linkage (i.e. the backbone), of the nucleotide units are replaced with novel groups. The nucleobase units are maintained for hybridization with an appropriate target nucleic acid. One such compound, an oligonucleotide mimetic that has been shown to have excellent hybridization properties, is referred to as a peptide nucleic acid (PNA). In PNA compounds, the sugar-backbone of an oligonucleotide is replaced with an amide containing backbone, in particular an aminoethylglycine backbone. The nucleobases are retained and are bound directly or indirectly to aza nitrogen atoms of the amide portion of the backbone. Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of PNA compounds include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos.: 5,539,082; 5,714,331; and 5,719,262, each of which is herein incorporated by reference. Further teaching of PNA compounds can be found in Nielsen et al., Science, 1991, 254, 1497-1500.

[0083] Preferred embodiments of the invention are oligonucleotides with phosphorothioate backbones and oligonucleosides with heteroatom backbones, and in particular —CH₂—NH—O—CH₂—, —CH₂—N(CH₃)—O—CH₂— [known as a methylene (methylimino) or MMI backbone], —CH₂—O—N(CH₃)—CH₂—, —CH₂—N(CH₃)—N(CH₃)—CH₂— and —O—N(CH₃)—CH₂—CH₂— [wherein the native phosphodiester backbone is represented as —O—P—O—CH₂—] of the above referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,677, and the amide backbones of the above referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,602,240. Also preferred are oligonucleotides having morpholino backbone structures of the above-referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,034,506.

[0084] Modified Sugars

[0085] Modified oligonucleotides may also contain one or more substituted sugar moieties. Preferred oligonucleotides comprise one of the following at the 2′ position: OH; F; O—, S—, or N-alkyl; O—, S—, or N-alkenyl; O—, S— or N-alkynyl; or O-alkyl-O-alkyl, wherein the alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl may be substituted or unsubstituted C₁ to C₁₀ alkyl or C₂ to C₁₀ alkenyl and alkynyl. Particularly preferred are O[(CH₂)_(n)O]_(m)CH₃, O(CH₂)_(n)OCH₃, O(CH₂)_(n)NH₂, O(CH₂)_(n)CH₃, O(CH₂)_(n)ONH₂, and O(CH₂)_(n)ON[(CH₂)_(n)CH₃]₂, where n and m are from 1 to about 10. Other preferred oligonucleotides comprise one of the following at the 2′ position: C₁ to C₁₀ lower alkyl, substituted lower alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkaryl, aralkyl, O-alkaryl or O-aralkyl, SH, SCH₃, OCN, Cl, Br, CN, CF₃, OCF₃, SOCH₃, SO₂CH₃, ONO₂, NO₂, N₃, NH₂, heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkaryl, aminoalkylamino, polyalkylamino, substituted silyl, an RNA cleaving group, a reporter group, an intercalator, a group for improving the pharmacokinetic properties of an oligonucleotide, or a group for improving the pharmacodynamic properties of an oligonucleotide, and other substituents having similar properties. A preferred modification includes 2′-methoxyethoxy (2′-O—CH₂CH₂OCH₃, also known as 2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl) or 2′-MOE) (Martin et al., Helv. Chim. Acta, 1995, 78, 486-504) i.e., an alkoxyalkoxy group. A further preferred modification includes 2′-dimethylaminooxyethoxy, i.e., a O(CH₂)₂ON(CH₃)₂ group, also known as 2′-DMAOE, as described in examples hereinbelow, and 2′-dimethylaminoethoxyethoxy (also known in the art as 2′-O-dimethyl-amino-ethoxy-ethyl or 2′-DMAEOE), i.e., 2′-O—CH₂—O—CH₂—N(CH₃)₂, also described in examples hereinbelow.

[0086] Other preferred modifications include 2′-methoxy (2′-O—CH₃), 2′-aminopropoxy (2′-OCH₂CH₂CH₂NH₂), 2′-allyl (2′-CH₂—CH═CH₂), 2′-O-allyl (2′-O—CH₂—CH═CH₂) and 2′-fluoro (2′-F). The 2′-modification may be in the arabino (up) position or ribo (down) position. A preferred 2′-arabino modification is 2′-F. Similar modifications may also be made at other positions on the oligonucleotide, particularly the 3′ position of the sugar on the 3′ terminal nucleotide or in 2′-5′ linked oligonucleotides and the 5′ position of 5′ terminal nucleotide. Oligonucleotides may also have sugar mimetics such as cyclobutyl moieties in place of the pentofuranosyl sugar. Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of such modified sugar structures include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos.: 4,981,957; 5,118,800; 5,319,080; 5,359,044; 5,393,878; 5,446,137; 5,466,786; 5,514,785; 5,519,134; 5,567,811; 5,576,427; 5,591,722; 5,597,909; 5,610,300; 5,627,053; 5,639,873; 5,646,265; 5,658,873; 5,670,633; 5,792,747; and 5,700,920, certain of which are commonly owned with the instant application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0087] A further preferred modification of the sugar includes Locked Nucleic Acids (LNAs) in which the 2′-hydroxyl group is linked to the 3′ or 4′ carbon atom of the sugar ring, thereby forming a bicyclic sugar moiety. The linkage is preferably a methylene (—CH₂—)_(n) group bridging the 2′ oxygen atom and the 4′ carbon atom wherein n is 1 or 2. LNAs and preparation thereof are described in WO 98/39352 and WO 99/14226.

[0088] Natural and Modified Nucleobases

[0089] Oligonucleotides may also include nucleobase (often referred to in the art simply as “base”) modifications or substitutions. As used herein, “unmodified” or “natural” nucleobases include the purine bases adenine (A) and guanine (G), and the pyrimidine bases thymine (T), cytosine (C) and uracil (U). Modified nucleobases include other synthetic and natural nucleobases such as 5-methylcytosine (5-me-C), 5-hydroxymethyl cytosine, xanthine, hypoxanthine, 2-aminoadenine, 6-methyl and other alkyl derivatives of adenine and guanine, 2-propyl and other alkyl derivatives of adenine and guanine, 2-thiouracil, 2-thiothymine and 2-thiocytosine, 5-halouracil and cytosine, 5-propynyl (—C≡C—CH₃) uracil and cytosine and other alkynyl derivatives of pyrimidine bases, 6-azo uracil, cytosine and thymine, 5-uracil (pseudouracil), 4-thiouracil, 8-halo, 8-amino, 8-thiol, 8-thioalkyl, 8-hydroxyl and other 8-substituted adenines and guanines, 5-halo particularly 5-bromo, 5-trifluoromethyl and other 5-substituted uracils and cytosines, 7-methylguanine and 7-methyladenine, 2-F-adenine, 2-amino-adenine, 8-azaguanine and 8-azaadenine, 7-deazaguanine and 7-deazaadenine and 3-deazaguanine and 3-deazaadenine. Further modified nucleobases include tricyclic pyrimidines such as phenoxazine cytidine (1H-pyrimido[5,4-b][1,4]benzoxazin-2(3H)-one), phenothiazine cytidine (1H-pyrimido[5,4-b][1,4]benzothiazin-2(3H)-one), G-clamps such as a substituted phenoxazine cytidine (e.g. 9-(2-aminoethoxy)-H-pyrimido[5,4-b][1,4]benzoxazin-2(3H)-one), carbazole cytidine (2H-pyrimido[4,5-b]indol-2-one), pyridoindole cytidine (H-pyrido[3′, 2′: 4,5]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-2-one). Modified nucleobases may also include those in which the purine or pyrimidine base is replaced with other heterocycles, for example 7-deaza-adenine, 7-deazaguanosine, 2-aminopyridine and 2-pyridone. Further nucleobases include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,687,808, those disclosed in The Concise Encyclopedia Of Polymer Science And Engineering, pages 858-859, Kroschwitz, J. I., ed. John Wiley & Sons, 1990, those disclosed by Englisch et al., Angewandte Chemie, International Edition, 1991, 30, 613, and those disclosed by Sanghvi, Y. S., Chapter 15, Antisense Research and Applications, pages 289-302, Crooke, S. T. and Lebleu, B. ed., CRC Press, 1993. Certain of these nucleobases are particularly useful for increasing the binding affinity of the compounds of the invention. These include 5-substituted pyrimidines, 6-azapyrimidines and N-2, N-6 and O-6 substituted purines, including 2-aminopropyladenine, 5-propynyluracil and 5-propynylcytosine. 5-methylcytosine substitutions have been shown to increase nucleic acid duplex stability by 0.6-1.2° C. and are presently preferred base substitutions, even more particularly when combined with 2′-O-methoxyethyl sugar modifications.

[0090] Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of certain of the above noted modified nucleobases as well as other modified nucleobases include, but are not limited to, the above noted U.S. Pat. No. 3,687,808, as well as U.S. Pat. Nos.: 4,845,205; 5,130,302; 5,134,066; 5,175,273; 5,367,066; 5,432,272; 5,457,187; 5,459,255; 5,484,908; 5,502,177; 5,525,711; 5,552,540; 5,587,469; 5,594,121, 5,596,091; 5,614,617; 5,645,985; 5,830,653; 5,763,588; 6,005,096; and 5,681,941, certain of which are commonly owned with the instant application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,750,692, which is commonly owned with the instant application and also herein incorporated by reference.

[0091] Conjugates

[0092] Another modification of the oligonucleotides of the invention involves chemically linking to the oligonucleotide one or more moieties or conjugates which enhance the activity, cellular distribution or cellular uptake of the oligonucleotide. These moieties or conjugates can include conjugate groups covalently bound to functional groups such as primary or secondary hydroxyl groups. Conjugate groups of the invention include intercalators, reporter molecules, polyamines, polyamides, polyethylene glycols, polyethers, groups that enhance the pharmacodynamic properties of oligomers, and groups that enhance the pharmacokinetic properties of oligomers. Typical conjugate groups include cholesterols, lipids, phospholipids, biotin, phenazine, folate, phenanthridine, anthraquinone, acridine, fluoresceins, rhodamines, coumarins, and dyes. Groups that enhance the pharmacodynamic properties, in the context of this invention, include groups that improve uptake, enhance resistance to degradation, and/or strengthen sequence-specific hybridization with the target nucleic acid. Groups that enhance the pharmacokinetic properties, in the context of this invention, include groups that improve uptake, distribution, metabolism or excretion of the compounds of the present invention. Representative conjugate groups are disclosed in International Patent Application PCT/US92/09196, filed Oct. 23, 1992, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,860, the entire disclosure of which are incorporated herein by reference. Conjugate moieties include but are not limited to lipid moieties such as a cholesterol moiety, cholic acid, a thioether, e.g., hexyl-S-tritylthiol, a thiocholesterol, an aliphatic chain, e.g., dodecandiol or undecyl residues, a phospholipid, e.g., di-hexadecyl-rac-glycerol or triethylammonium 1,2-di-O-hexadecyl-rac-glycero-3-H-phosphonate, a polyamine or a polyethylene glycol chain, or adamantane acetic acid, a palmityl moiety, or an octadecylamine or hexylamino-carbonyl-oxycholesterol moiety. Oligonucleotides of the invention may also be conjugated to active drug substances, for example, aspirin, warfarin, phenylbutazone, ibuprofen, suprofen, fenbufen, ketoprofen, (S)-(+)-pranoprofen, carprofen, dansylsarcosine, 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid, flufenamic acid, folinic acid, a benzothiadiazide, chlorothiazide, a diazepine, indomethicin, a barbiturate, a cephalosporin, a sulfa drug, an antidiabetic, an antibacterial or an antibiotic. Oligonucleotide-drug conjugates and their preparation are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/334,130 (filed Jun. 15, 1999) which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0093] Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of such oligonucleotide conjugates include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos.: 4,828,979; 4,948,882; 5,218,105; 5,525,465; 5,541,313; 5,545,730; 5,552,538; 5,578,717, 5,580,731; 5,580,731; 5,591,584; 5,109,124; 5,118,802; 5,138,045; 5,414,077; 5,486,603; 5,512,439; 5,578,718; 5,608,046; 4,587,044; 4,605,735; 4,667,025; 4,762,779; 4,789,737; 4,824,941; 4,835,263; 4,876,335; 4,904,582; 4,958,013; 5,082,830; 5,112,963; 5,214,136; 5,082,830; 5,112,963; 5,214,136; 5,245,022; 5,254,469; 5,258,506; 5,262,536; 5,272,250; 5,292,873; 5,317,098; 5,371,241, 5,391,723; 5,416,203, 5,451,463; 5,510,475; 5,512,667; 5,514,785; 5,565,552; 5,567,810; 5,574,142; 5,585,481; 5,587,371; 5,595,726; 5,597,696; 5,599,923; 5,599,928 and 5,688,941, certain of which are commonly owned with the instant application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference.

[0094] Chimeric Compounds

[0095] It is not necessary for all positions in a given compound to be uniformly modified, and in fact more than one of the aforementioned modifications may be incorporated in a single compound or even at a single nucleoside within an oligonucleotide.

[0096] The present invention also includes antisense compounds which are chimeric compounds. “Chimeric” antisense compounds or “chimeras,” in the context of this invention, are antisense compounds, particularly oligonucleotides, which contain two or more chemically distinct regions, each made up of at least one monomer unit, i.e., a nucleotide in the case of an oligonucleotide compound. These oligonucleotides typically contain at least one region wherein the oligonucleotide is modified so as to confer upon the oligonucleotide increased resistance to nuclease degradation, increased cellular uptake, increased stability and/or increased binding affinity for the target nucleic acid. An additional region of the oligonucleotide may serve as a substrate for enzymes capable of cleaving RNA:DNA or RNA:RNA hybrids. By way of example, RNAse H is a cellular endonuclease which cleaves the RNA strand of an RNA:DNA duplex. Activation of RNase H, therefore, results in cleavage of the RNA target, thereby greatly enhancing the efficiency of oligonucleotide-mediated inhibition of gene expression. The cleavage of RNA:RNA hybrids can, in like fashion, be accomplished through the actions of endoribonucleases, such as RNAseL which cleaves both cellular and viral RNA. Cleavage of the RNA target can be routinely detected by gel electrophoresis and, if necessary, associated nucleic acid hybridization techniques known in the art.

[0097] Chimeric antisense compounds of the invention may be formed as composite structures of two or more oligonucleotides, modified oligonucleotides, oligonucleosides and/or oligonucleotide mimetics as described above. Such compounds have also been referred to in the art as hybrids or gapmers. Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of such hybrid structures include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos.: 5,013,830; 5,149,797; 5,220,007; 5,256,775; 5,366,878; 5,403,711; 5,491,133; 5,565,350; 5,623,065; 5,652,355; 5,652,356; and 5,700,922, certain of which are commonly owned with the instant application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0098] G. Formulations

[0099] The compounds of the invention may also be admixed, encapsulated, conjugated or otherwise associated with other molecules, molecule structures or mixtures of compounds, as for example, liposomes, receptor-targeted molecules, oral, rectal, topical or other formulations, for assisting in uptake, distribution and/or absorption. Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of such uptake, distribution and/or absorption-assisting formulations include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos.: 5,108,921; 5,354,844; 5,416,016; 5,459,127; 5,521,291; 5,543,158; 5,547,932; 5,583,020; 5,591,721; 4,426,330; 4,534,899; 5,013,556; 5,108,921; 5,213,804; 5,227,170; 5,264,221; 5,356,633; 5,395,619; 5,416,016; 5,417,978; 5,462,854; 5,469,854; 5,512,295; 5,527,528; 5,534,259; 5,543,152; 5,556,948; 5,580,575; and 5,595,756, each of which is herein incorporated by reference.

[0100] The antisense compounds of the invention encompass any pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or salts of such esters, or any other compound which, upon administration to an animal, including a human, is capable of providing (directly or indirectly) the biologically active metabolite or residue thereof. Accordingly, for example, the disclosure is also drawn to prodrugs and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of the invention, pharmaceutically acceptable salts of such prodrugs, and other bioequivalents.

[0101] The term “prodrug” indicates a therapeutic agent that is prepared in an inactive form that is converted to an active form (i.e., drug) within the body or cells thereof by the action of endogenous enzymes or other chemicals and/or conditions. In particular, prodrug versions of the oligonucleotides of the invention are prepared as SATE [(S-acetyl-2-thioethyl) phosphate] derivatives according to the methods disclosed in WO 93/24510 to Gosselin et al., published Dec. 9, 1993 or in WO 94/26764 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,770,713 to Imbach et al.

[0102] The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salts” refers to physiologically and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of the invention: i.e., salts that retain the desired biological activity of the parent compound and do not impart undesired toxicological effects thereto. For oligonucleotides, preferred examples of pharmaceutically acceptable salts and their uses are further described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,860, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

[0103] The present invention also includes pharmaceutical compositions and formulations which include the antisense compounds of the invention. The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention may be administered in a number of ways depending upon whether local or systemic treatment is desired and upon the area to be treated. Administration may be topical (including ophthalmic and to mucous membranes including vaginal and rectal delivery), pulmonary, e.g., by inhalation or insufflation of powders or aerosols, including by nebulizer; intratracheal, intranasal, epidermal and transdermal), oral or parenteral. Parenteral administration includes intravenous, intraarterial, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal or intramuscular injection or infusion; or intracranial, e.g., intrathecal or intraventricular, administration. Oligonucleotides with at least one 2′-O-methoxyethyl modification are believed to be particularly useful for oral administration. Pharmaceutical compositions and formulations for topical administration may include transdermal patches, ointments, lotions, creams, gels, drops, suppositories, sprays, liquids and powders. Conventional pharmaceutical carriers, aqueous, powder or oily bases, thickeners and the like may be necessary or desirable. Coated condoms, gloves and the like may also be useful.

[0104] The pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention, which may conveniently be presented in unit dosage form, may be prepared according to conventional techniques well known in the pharmaceutical industry. Such techniques include the step of bringing into association the active ingredients with the pharmaceutical carrier(s) or excipient(s). In general, the formulations are prepared by uniformly and intimately bringing into association the active ingredients with liquid carriers or finely divided solid carriers or both, and then, if necessary, shaping the product.

[0105] The compositions of the present invention may be formulated into any of many possible dosage forms such as, but not limited to, tablets, capsules, gel capsules, liquid syrups, soft gels, suppositories, and enemas. The compositions of the present invention may also be formulated as suspensions in aqueous, non-aqueous or mixed media. Aqueous suspensions may further contain substances which increase the viscosity of the suspension including, for example, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, sorbitol and/or dextran. The suspension may also contain stabilizers.

[0106] Pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention include, but are not limited to, solutions, emulsions, foams and liposome-containing formulations. The pharmaceutical compositions and formulations of the present invention may comprise one or more penetration enhancers, carriers, excipients or other active or inactive ingredients.

[0107] Emulsions are typically heterogenous systems of one liquid dispersed in another in the form of droplets usually exceeding 0.1 μm in diameter. Emulsions may contain additional components in addition to the dispersed phases, and the active drug which may be present as a solution in either the aqueous phase, oily phase or itself as a separate phase. Microemulsions are included as an embodiment of the present invention. Emulsions and their uses are well known in the art and are further described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,860, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

[0108] Formulations of the present invention include liposomal formulations. As used in the present invention, the term “liposome” means a vesicle composed of amphiphilic lipids arranged in a spherical bilayer or bilayers. Liposomes are unilamellar or multilamellar vesicles which have a membrane formed from a lipophilic material and an aqueous interior that contains the composition to be delivered. Cationic liposomes are positively charged liposomes which are believed to interact with negatively charged DNA molecules to form a stable complex. Liposomes that are pH-sensitive or negatively-charged are believed to entrap DNA rather than complex with it. Both cationic and noncationic liposomes have been used to deliver DNA to cells.

[0109] Liposomes also include “sterically stabilized” liposomes, a term which, as used herein, refers to liposomes comprising one or more specialized lipids that, when incorporated into liposomes, result in enhanced circulation lifetimes relative to liposomes lacking such specialized lipids. Examples of sterically stabilized liposomes are those in which part of the vesicle-forming lipid portion of the liposome comprises one or more glycolipids or is derivatized with one or more hydrophilic polymers, such as a polyethylene glycol (PEG) moiety. Liposomes and their uses are further described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,860, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

[0110] The pharmaceutical formulations and compositions of the present invention may also include surfactants. The use of surfactants in drug products, formulations and in emulsions is well known in the art. Surfactants and their uses are further described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,860, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

[0111] In one embodiment, the present invention employs various penetration enhancers to effect the efficient delivery of nucleic acids, particularly oligonucleotides. In addition to aiding the diffusion of non-lipophilic drugs across cell membranes, penetration enhancers also enhance the permeability of lipophilic drugs. Penetration enhancers may be classified as belonging to one of five broad categories, i.e., surfactants, fatty acids, bile salts, chelating agents, and non-chelating non-surfactants. Penetration enhancers and their uses are further described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,860, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

[0112] One of skill in the art will recognize that formulations are routinely designed according to their intended use, i.e. route of administration.

[0113] Preferred formulations for topical administration include those in which the oligonucleotides of the invention are in admixture with a topical delivery agent such as lipids, liposomes, fatty acids, fatty acid esters, steroids, chelating agents and surfactants. Preferred lipids and liposomes include neutral (e.g. dioleoylphosphatidyl DOPE ethanolamine, dimyristoylphosphatidyl choline DMPC, distearolyphosphatidyl choline) negative (e.g. dimyristoylphosphatidyl glycerol DMPG) and cationic (e.g. dioleoyltetramethylaminopropyl DOTAP and dioleoylphosphatidyl ethanolamine DOTMA).

[0114] For topical or other administration, oligonucleotides of the invention may be encapsulated within liposomes or may form complexes thereto, in particular to cationic liposomes. Alternatively, oligonucleotides may be complexed to lipids, in particular to cationic lipids. Preferred fatty acids and esters, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and their uses are further described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,860, which is incorporated herein in its entirety. Topical formulations are described in detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/315,298 filed on May 20, 1999, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0115] Compositions and formulations for oral administration include powders or granules, microparticulates, nanoparticulates, suspensions or solutions in water or non-aqueous media, capsules, gel capsules, sachets, tablets or minitablets. Thickeners, flavoring agents, diluents, emulsifiers, dispersing aids or binders may be desirable. Preferred oral formulations are those in which oligonucleotides of the invention are administered in conjunction with one or more penetration enhancers surfactants and chelators. Preferred surfactants include fatty acids and/or esters or salts thereof, bile acids and/or salts thereof. Preferred bile acids/salts and fatty acids and their uses are further described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,860, which is incorporated herein in its entirety. Also preferred are combinations of penetration enhancers, for example, fatty acids/salts in combination with bile acids/salts. A particularly preferred combination is the sodium salt of lauric acid, capric acid and UDCA. Further penetration enhancers include polyoxyethylene-9-lauryl ether, polyoxyethylene-20-cetyl ether. Oligonucleotides of the invention may be delivered orally, in granular form including sprayed dried particles, or complexed to form micro or nanoparticles. Oligonucleotide complexing agents and their uses are further described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,860, which is incorporated herein in its entirety. Oral formulations for oligonucleotides and their preparation are described in detail in U.S. application Ser. Nos. 09/108,673 (filed Jul. 1, 1998), 09/315,298 (filed May 20, 1999) and 10/071,822, filed Feb. 8, 2002, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0116] Compositions and formulations for parenteral, intrathecal or intraventricular administration may include sterile aqueous solutions which may also contain buffers, diluents and other suitable additives such as, but not limited to, penetration enhancers, carrier compounds and other pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients.

[0117] Certain embodiments of the invention provide pharmaceutical compositions containing one or more oligomeric compounds and one or more other chemotherapeutic agents which function by a non-antisense mechanism. Examples of such chemotherapeutic agents include but are not limited to cancer chemotherapeutic drugs such as daunorubicin, daunomycin, dactinomycin, doxorubicin, epirubicin, idarubicin, esorubicin, bleomycin, mafosfamide, ifosfamide, cytosine arabinoside, bis-chloroethylnitrosurea, busulfan, mitomycin C, actinomycin D, mithramycin, prednisone, hydroxyprogesterone, testosterone, tamoxifen, dacarbazine, procarbazine, hexamethylmelamine, pentamethylmelamine, mitoxantrone, amsacrine, chlorambucil, methylcyclohexylnitrosurea, nitrogen mustards, melphalan, cyclophosphamide, 6-mercaptopurine, 6-thioguanine, cytarabine, 5-azacytidine, hydroxyurea, deoxycoformycin, 4-hydroxyperoxycyclophosphoramide, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), 5-fluorodeoxyuridine (5-FUdR), methotrexate (MTX), colchicine, taxol, vincristine, vinblastine, etoposide (VP-16), trimetrexate, irinotecan, topotecan, gemcitabine, teniposide, cisplatin and diethylstilbestrol (DES). When used with the compounds of the invention, such chemotherapeutic agents may be used individually (e.g., 5-FU and oligonucleotide), sequentially (e.g., 5-FU and oligonucleotide for a period of time followed by MTX and oligonucleotide), or in combination with one or more other such chemotherapeutic agents (e.g., 5-FU, MTX and oligonucleotide, or 5-FU, radiotherapy and oligonucleotide). Anti-inflammatory drugs, including but not limited to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids, and antiviral drugs, including but not limited to ribivirin, vidarabine, acyclovir and ganciclovir, may also be combined in compositions of the invention. Combinations of antisense compounds and other non-antisense drugs are also within the scope of this invention. Two or more combined compounds may be used together or sequentially.

[0118] In another related embodiment, compositions of the invention may contain one or more antisense compounds, particularly oligonucleotides, targeted to a first nucleic acid and one or more additional antisense compounds targeted to a second nucleic acid target. Alternatively, compositions of the invention may contain two or more antisense compounds targeted to different regions of the same nucleic acid target. Numerous examples of antisense compounds are known in the art. Two or more combined compounds may be used together or sequentially.

[0119] H. Dosing

[0120] The formulation of therapeutic compositions and their subsequent administration (dosing) is believed to be within the skill of those in the art. Dosing is dependent on severity and responsiveness of the disease state to be treated, with the course of treatment lasting from several days to several months, or until a cure is effected or a diminution of the disease state is achieved. Optimal dosing schedules can be calculated from measurements of drug accumulation in the body of the patient. Persons of ordinary skill can easily determine optimum dosages, dosing methodologies and repetition rates. Optimum dosages may vary depending on the relative potency of individual oligonucleotides, and can generally be estimated based on EC₅₀s found to be effective in in vitro and in vivo animal models. In general, dosage is from 0.01 ug to 100 g per kg of body weight, and may be given once or more daily, weekly, monthly or yearly, or even once every 2 to 20 years. Persons of ordinary skill in the art can easily estimate repetition rates for dosing based on measured residence times and concentrations of the drug in bodily fluids or tissues. Following successful treatment, it may be desirable to have the patient undergo maintenance therapy to prevent the recurrence of the disease state, wherein the oligonucleotide is administered in maintenance doses, ranging from 0.01 ug to 100 g per kg of body weight, once or more daily, to once every 20 years.

[0121] While the present invention has been described with specificity in accordance with certain of its preferred embodiments, the following examples serve only to illustrate the invention and are not intended to limit the same.

EXAMPLES Example 1

[0122] Synthesis of Nucleoside Phosphoramidites

[0123] The following compounds, including amidites and their intermediates were prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,426,220 and published PCT WO 02/36743; 5′-O-Dimethoxytrityl-thymidine intermediate for 5-methyl dC amidite, 5′-O-Dimethoxytrityl-2′-deoxy-5-methylcytidine intermediate for 5-methyl-dC amidite, 5′-O-Dimethoxytrityl-2′-deoxy-N4-benzoyl-5-methylcytidine penultimate intermediate for 5-methyl dC amidite, [5′-O-(4,4′-Dimethoxytriphenylmethyl)-2′-deoxy-N⁴-benzoyl-5-methylcytidin-3′-O-yl]-2-cyanoethyl-N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidite (5-methyl dC amidite), 2′-Fluorodeoxyadenosine, 2′-Fluorodeoxyguanosine, 2′-Fluorouridine, 2′-Fluorodeoxycytidine, 2′-O-(2-Methoxyethyl) modified amidites, 2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-5-methyluridine intermediate, 5′-O-DMT-2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-5-methyluridine penultimate intermediate, [5′-O-(4,4′-Dimethoxytriphenylmethyl)-2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-5-methyluridin-3′-O-yl]-2-cyanoethyl-N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidite (MOE T amidite), 5′-O-Dimethoxytrityl-2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-5-methylcytidine intermediate, 5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-N⁴-benzoyl-5-methyl-cytidine penultimate intermediate, [5′-O-(4,4′-Dimethoxytriphenylmethyl)-2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-N⁴-benzoyl-5-methylcytidin-3′-O-yl]-2-cyanoethyl-N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidite (MOE 5-Me-C amidite), [5′-O-(4,4′-Dimethoxytriphenylmethyl)-2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-N⁶-benzoyladenosin-3′-O-yl]-2-cyanoethyl-N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidite (MOE A amdite), [5′-O-(4,4′-Dimethoxytriphenylmethyl)-2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-N⁴-isobutyrylguanosin-3′-O-yl]-2-cyanoethyl-N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidite (MOE G amidite), 2′-O-(Aminooxyethyl) nucleoside amidites and 2′-O-(dimethylaminooxyethyl) nucleoside amidites, 2′-(Dimethylaminooxyethoxy) nucleoside amidites, 5′-O-tert-Butyldiphenylsilyl-O²-2′-anhydro-5-methyluridine, 5′-O-tert-Butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-(2-hydroxyethyl)-5-methyluridine, 2′-O-([2-phthalimidoxy)ethyl]-5′-t-butyldiphenylsilyl-5-methyluridine 5′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-[(2-formadoximinooxy)ethyl]-5-methyluridine, 5′-O-tert-Butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-[N,N dimethylaminooxyethyl]-5-methyluridine, 2′-O-(dimethylaminooxyethyl)-5-methyluridine, 5′-O-DMT-2′-O-(dimethylaminooxyethyl)-5-methyluridine, 5′-O-DMT-2′-O-(2-N,N-dimethylaminooxyethyl)-5-methyluridine-3′-[(2-cyanoethyl)-N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidite], 2′-(Aminooxyethoxy) nucleoside amidites, N2-isobutyryl-6-O-diphenylcarbamoyl-2′-O-(2-ethylacetyl)-5′-o-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)guanosine-3′-[(2-cyanoethyl)-N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidite], 2′-dimethylaminoethoxyethoxy (2′-DMAEOE) nucleoside amidites, 2′-O-[2(2-N,N-dimethylaminoethoxy)ethyl]-5-methyl uridine, 5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-2′-O-[2(2-N,N-dimethylaminoethoxy)-ethyl)]-5-methyl uridine and 5′-O-Dimethoxytrityl-2′-O-[2(2-N,N-dimethylaminoethoxy)-ethyl)]-5-methyl uridine-3′-O-(cyanoethyl-N,N-diisopropyl)phosphoramidite.

Example 2

[0124] Oligonucleotide and Oligonucleoside Synthesis

[0125] The antisense compounds used in accordance with this invention may be conveniently and routinely made through the well-known technique of solid phase synthesis. Equipment for such synthesis is sold by several vendors including, for example, Applied Biosystems (Foster City, Calif.). Any other means for such synthesis known in the art may additionally or alternatively be employed. It is well known to use similar techniques to prepare oligonucleotides such as the phosphorothioates and alkylated derivatives.

[0126] Oligonucleotides: Unsubstituted and substituted phosphodiester (P═O) oligonucleotides are synthesized on an automated DNA synthesizer (Applied Biosystems model 394) using standard phosphoramidite chemistry with oxidation by iodine.

[0127] Phosphorothioates (P═S) are synthesized similar to phosphodiester oligonucleotides with the following exceptions: thiation was effected by utilizing a 10% w/v solution of 3,H-1,2-benzodithiole-3-one 1,1-dioxide in acetonitrile for the oxidation of the phosphite linkages. The thiation reaction step time was increased to 180 sec and ′preceded by the normal capping step. After cleavage from the CPG column and deblocking in concentrated ammonium hydroxide at 55° C. (12-16 hr), the oligonucleotides were recovered by precipitating with >3 volumes of ethanol from a 1 M NH₄OAc solution. Phosphinate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,508,270, herein incorporated by reference.

[0128] Alkyl phosphonate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,863, herein incorporated by reference. 3′-Deoxy-3′-methylene phosphonate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,610,289 or 5,625,050, herein incorporated by reference.

[0129] Phosphoramidite oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,256,775 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,878, herein incorporated by reference.

[0130] Alkylphosphonothioate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in published PCT applications PCT/US94/00902 and PCT/US93/06976 (published as WO 94/17093 and WO 94/02499, respectively), herein incorporated by reference.

[0131] 3′-Deoxy-3′-amino phosphoramidate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,476,925, herein incorporated by reference.

[0132] Phosphotriester oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,243, herein incorporated by reference.

[0133] Borano phosphate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,130,302 and 5,177,198, both herein incorporated by reference.

[0134] Oligonucleosides: Methylenemethylimino linked oligonucleosides, also identified as MMI linked oligonucleosides, methylenedimethylhydrazo linked oligonucleosides, also identified as MDH linked oligonucleosides, and methylenecarbonylamino linked oligonucleosides, also identified as amide-3 linked oligonucleosides, and methyleneaminocarbonyl linked oligonucleosides, also identified as amide-4 linked oligonucleosides, as well as mixed backbone compounds having, for instance, alternating MMI and P═O or P═S linkages are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,378,825, 5,386,023, 5,489,677, 5,602,240 and 5,610,289, all of which are herein incorporated by reference.

[0135] Formacetal and thioformacetal linked oligonucleosides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,264,562 and 5,264,564, herein incorporated by reference.

[0136] Ethylene oxide linked oligonucleosides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,618, herein incorporated by reference.

Example 3

[0137] RNA Synthesis

[0138] In general, RNA synthesis chemistry is based on the selective incorporation of various protecting groups at strategic intermediary reactions. Although one of ordinary skill in the art will understand the use of protecting groups in organic synthesis, a useful class of protecting groups includes silyl ethers. In particular bulky silyl ethers are used to protect the 5′-hydroxyl in combination with an acid-labile orthoester protecting group on the 2′-hydroxyl. This set of protecting groups is then used with standard solid-phase synthesis technology. It is important to lastly remove the acid labile orthoester protecting group after all other synthetic steps. Moreover, the early use of the silyl protecting groups during synthesis ensures facile removal when desired, without undesired deprotection of 2′ hydroxyl.

[0139] Following this procedure for the sequential protection of the 5′-hydroxyl in combination with protection of the 2′-hydroxyl by protecting groups that are differentially removed and are differentially chemically labile, RNA oligonucleotides were synthesized.

[0140] RNA oligonucleotides are synthesized in a stepwise fashion. Each nucleotide is added sequentially (3′- to 5′-direction) to a solid support-bound oligonucleotide. The first nucleoside at the 3′-end of the chain is covalently attached to a solid support. The nucleotide precursor, a ribonucleoside phosphoramidite, and activator are added, coupling the second base onto the 5′-end of the first nucleoside. The support is washed and any unreacted 5′-hydroxyl groups are capped with acetic anhydride to yield 5′-acetyl moieties. The linkage is then oxidized to the more stable and ultimately desired P(V) linkage. At the end of the nucleotide addition cycle, the 5′-silyl group is cleaved with fluoride. The cycle is repeated for each subsequent nucleotide.

[0141] Following synthesis, the methyl protecting groups on the phosphates are cleaved in 30 minutes utilizing 1 M disodium-2-carbamoyl-2-cyanoethylene-1,1-dithiolate trihydrate (S₂Na₂) in DMF. The deprotection solution is washed from the solid support-bound oligonucleotide using water. The support is then treated with 40% methylamine in water for 10 minutes at 55° C. This releases the RNA oligonucleotides into solution, deprotects the exocyclic amines, and modifies the 2′-groups. The oligonucleotides can be analyzed by anion exchange HPLC at this stage.

[0142] The 2′-orthoester groups are the last protecting groups to be removed. The ethylene glycol monoacetate orthoester protecting group developed by Dharmacon Research, Inc. (Lafayette, Colo.), is one example of a useful orthoester protecting group which, has the following important properties. It is stable to the conditions of nucleoside phosphoramidite synthesis and oligonucleotide synthesis. However, after oligonucleotide synthesis the oligonucleotide is treated with methylamine which not only cleaves the oligonucleotide from the solid support but also removes the acetyl groups from the orthoesters. The resulting 2-ethylhydroxyl substituents on the orthoester are less electron withdrawing than the acetylated precursor. As a result, the modified orthoester becomes more labile to acid-catalyzed hydrolysis. Specifically, the rate of cleavage is approximately 10 times faster after the acetyl groups are removed. Therefore, this orthoester possesses sufficient stability in order to be compatible with oligonucleotide synthesis and yet, when subsequently modified, permits deprotection to be carried out under relatively mild aqueous conditions compatible with the final RNA oligonucleotide product.

[0143] Additionally, methods of RNA synthesis are well known in the art (Scaringe, S. A. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Colorado, 1996; Scaringe, S. A., et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1998, 120, 11820-11821; Matteucci, M. D. and Caruthers, M. H. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1981, 103, 3185-3191; Beaucage, S. L. and Caruthers, M. H. Tetrahedron Lett., 1981, 22, 1859-1862; Dahl, B. J., et al., Acta Chem. Scand,. 1990, 44, 639-641; Reddy, M. P., et al., Tetrahedron Lett., 1994, 25, 4311-4314; Wincott, F. et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 1995, 23, 2677-2684; Griffin, B. E., et al., Tetrahedron, 1967, 23, 2301-2313; Griffin, B. E., et al., Tetrahedron, 1967, 23, 2315-2331).

[0144] RNA antisense compounds (RNA oligonucleotides) of the present invention can be synthesized by the methods herein or purchased from Dharmacon Research, Inc (Lafayette, Colo.). Once synthesized, complementary RNA antisense compounds can then be annealed by methods known in the art to form double stranded (duplexed) antisense compounds. For example, duplexes can be formed by combining 30 μl of each of the complementary strands of RNA oligonucleotides (50 uM RNA oligonucleotide solution) and 15 μl of 5× annealing buffer (100 mM potassium acetate, 30 mM HEPES-KOH pH 7.4, 2 mM magnesium acetate) followed by heating for 1 minute at 90° C., then 1 hour at 37° C. The resulting duplexed antisense compounds can be used in kits, assays, screens, or other methods to investigate the role of a target nucleic acid.

Example 4

[0145] Synthesis of Chimeric Oligonucleotides

[0146] Chimeric oligonucleotides, oligonucleosides or mixed oligonucleotides/oligonucleosides of the invention can be of several different types. These include a first type wherein the “gap” segment of linked nucleosides is positioned between 5′ and 3′ “wing” segments of linked nucleosides and a second “open end” type wherein the “gap” segment is located at either the 3′ or the 5′ terminus of the oligomeric compound. Oligonucleotides of the first type are also known in the art as “gapmers” or gapped oligonucleotides. Oligonucleotides of the second type are also known in the art as “hemimers” or “wingmers”.

[0147] [2′-O-Me]—[2′-deoxy]—[2′-Me] Chimeric Phosphorothioate Oligonucleotides

[0148] Chimeric oligonucleotides having 2′-O-alkyl phosphorothioate and 2′-deoxy phosphorothioate oligonucleotide segments are synthesized using an Applied Biosystems automated DNA synthesizer Model 394, as above. Oligonucleotides are synthesized using the automated synthesizer and 2′-deoxy-5′-dimethoxytrityl-3′-O-phosphoramidite for the DNA portion and 5′-dimethoxytrityl-2′-O-methyl-3′-O-phosphoramidite for 5′ and 3′ wings. The standard synthesis cycle is modified by incorporating coupling steps with increased reaction times for the 5′-dimethoxytrityl-2′-O-methyl-3′-O-phosphoramidite. The fully protected oligonucleotide is cleaved from the support and deprotected in concentrated ammonia (NH₄OH) for 12-16 hr at 55° C. The deprotected oligo is then recovered by an appropriate method (precipitation, column chromatography, volume reduced in vacuo and analyzed spetrophotometrically for yield and for purity by capillary electrophoresis and by mass spectrometry.

[0149] [2′-O-(2-Methoxyethyl)]—[2′-deoxy]—[2′-O-(Methoxyethyl)] Chimeric Phosphorothioate Oligonucleotides

[0150] [2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl)]-[2′-deoxy]-[-2′-O-(methoxyethyl)] chimeric phosphorothioate oligonucleotides were prepared as per the procedure above for the 2′-O-methyl chimeric oligonucleotide, with the substitution of 2′-O-(methoxyethyl) amidites for the 2′-O-methyl amidites.

[0151] [2′-O-(2-Methoxyethyl)Phosphodiester]—[2′-deoxy Phosphorothioate]—[2′-O-(2-Methoxyethyl) Phosphodiester] Chimeric Oligonucleotides

[0152] [2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl phosphodiester]-[2′-deoxy phosphorothioate]-[2′-O-(methoxyethyl) phosphodiester] chimeric oligonucleotides are prepared as per the above procedure for the 2′-O-methyl chimeric oligonucleotide with the substitution of 2′-O-(methoxyethyl) amidites for the 2′-O-methyl amidites, oxidation with iodine to generate the phosphodiester internucleotide linkages within the wing portions of the chimeric structures and sulfurization utilizing 3,H-1,2 benzodithiole-3-one 1,1 dioxide (Beaucage Reagent) to generate the phosphorothioate internucleotide linkages for the center gap.

[0153] Other chimeric oligonucleotides, chimeric oligonucleosides and mixed chimeric oligonucleotides/oligonucleosides are synthesized according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,623,065, herein incorporated by reference.

Example 5

[0154] Design and Screening of Duplexed Antisense Compounds Targeting Interleukin 18

[0155] In accordance with the present invention, a series of nucleic acid duplexes comprising the antisense compounds of the present invention and their complements can be designed to target Interleukin 18. The nucleobase sequence of the antisense strand of the duplex comprises at least a portion of an oligonucleotide in Table 1. The ends of the strands may be modified by the addition of one or more natural or modified nucleobases to form an overhang. The sense strand of the dsRNA is then designed and synthesized as the complement of the antisense strand and may also contain modifications or additions to either terminus. For example, in one embodiment, both strands of the dsRNA duplex would be complementary over the central nucleobases, each having overhangs at one or both termini.

[0156] For example, a duplex comprising an antisense strand having the sequence CGAGAGGCGGACGGGACCG and having a two-nucleobase overhang of deoxythymidine(dT) would have the following structure:   cgagaggcggacgggaccgTT Antisense Strand   ||||||||||||||||||| TTgctctccgcctgccctggc Complement

[0157] RNA strands of the duplex can be synthesized by methods disclosed herein or purchased from Dharmacon Research Inc., (Lafayette, Colo.). Once synthesized, the complementary strands are annealed. The single strands are aliquoted and diluted to a concentration of 50 uM. Once diluted, 30 uL of each strand is combined with 15 uL of a 5× solution of annealing buffer. The final concentration of said buffer is 100 mM potassium acetate, 30 mM HEPES-KOH pH 7.4, and 2 mM magnesium acetate. The final volume is 75 uL. This solution is incubated for 1 minute at 90° C. and then centrifuged for 15 seconds. The tube is allowed to sit for 1 hour at 37° C. at which time the dsRNA duplexes are used in experimentation. The final concentration of the dsRNA duplex is 20 uM. This solution can be stored frozen (−20° C.) and freeze-thawed up to 5 times.

[0158] Once prepared, the duplexed antisense compounds are evaluated for their ability to modulate Interleukin 18 expression.

[0159] When cells reached 80% confluency, they are treated with duplexed antisense compounds of the invention. For cells grown in 96-well plates, wells are washed once with 200 μL OPTI-MEM-1 reduced-serum medium (Gibco BRL) and then treated with 130 μL of OPTI-MEM-1 containing 12 μg/mL LIPOFECTIN (Gibco BRL) and the desired duplex antisense compound at a final concentration of 200 nM. After 5 hours of treatment, the medium is replaced with fresh medium. Cells are harvested 16 hours after treatment, at which time RNA is isolated and target reduction measured by RT-PCR.

Example 6

[0160] Oligonucleotide Isolation

[0161] After cleavage from the controlled pore glass solid support and deblocking in concentrated ammonium hydroxide at 55° C. for 12-16 hours, the oligonucleotides or oligonucleosides are recovered by precipitation out of 1 M NH₄OAc with >3 volumes of ethanol. Synthesized oligonucleotides were analyzed by electrospray mass spectroscopy (molecular weight determination) and by capillary gel electrophoresis and judged to be at least 70% full length material. The relative amounts of phosphorothioate and phosphodiester linkages obtained in the synthesis was determined by the ratio of correct molecular weight relative to the −16 amu product (+/−32+/−48). For some studies oligonucleotides were purified by HPLC, as described by Chiang et al., J. Biol. Chem. 1991, 266, 18162-18171. Results obtained with HPLC-purified material were similar to those obtained with non-HPLC purified material.

Example 7

[0162] Oligonucleotide Synthesis—96 Well Plate Format

[0163] Oligonucleotides were synthesized via solid phase P(III) phosphoramidite chemistry on an automated synthesizer capable of assembling 96 sequences simultaneously in a 96-well format. Phosphodiester internucleotide linkages were afforded by oxidation with aqueous iodine. Phosphorothioate internucleotide linkages were generated by sulfurization utilizing 3,H-1,2 benzodithiole-3-one 1,1 dioxide (Beaucage Reagent) in anhydrous acetonitrile. Standard base-protected beta-cyanoethyl-diiso-propyl phosphoramidites were purchased from commercial vendors (e.g. PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif., or Pharmacia, Piscataway, N.J.). Non-standard nucleosides are synthesized as per standard or patented methods. They are utilized as base protected beta-cyanoethyldiisopropyl phosphoramidites.

[0164] Oligonucleotides were cleaved from support and deprotected with concentrated NH₄OH at elevated temperature (55-60° C.) for 12-16 hours and the released product then dried in vacuo. The dried product was then re-suspended in sterile water to afford a master plate from which all analytical and test plate samples are then diluted utilizing robotic pipettors.

Example 8

[0165] Oligonucleotide Analysis—96-Well Plate Format

[0166] The concentration of oligonucleotide in each well was assessed by dilution of samples and UV absorption spectroscopy. The full-length integrity of the individual products was evaluated by capillary electrophoresis (CE) in either the 96-well format (Beckman P/ACE™ MDQ) or, for individually prepared samples, on a commercial CE apparatus (e.g., Beckman P/ACE™ 5000, ABI 270). Base and backbone composition was confirmed by mass analysis of the compounds utilizing electrospray-mass spectroscopy. All assay test plates were diluted from the master plate using single and multi-channel robotic pipettors. Plates were judged to be acceptable if at least 85% of the compounds on the plate were at least 85% full length.

Example 9

[0167] Cell Culture and Oligonucleotide Treatment

[0168] The effect of antisense compounds on target nucleic acid expression can be tested in any of a variety of cell types provided that the target nucleic acid is present at measurable levels. This can be routinely determined using, for example, PCR or Northern blot analysis. The following cell types are provided for illustrative purposes, but other cell types can be routinely used, provided that the target is expressed in the cell type chosen. This can be readily determined by methods routine in the art, for example Northern blot analysis, ribonuclease protection assays, or RT-PCR.

[0169] T-24 Cells:

[0170] The human transitional cell bladder carcinoma cell line T-24 was obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) (Manassas, Va.). T-24 cells were routinely cultured in complete McCoy's 5A basal media (Invitrogen Corporation, Carlsbad, Calif.) supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (Invitrogen Corporation, Carlsbad, Calif.), penicillin 100 units per mL, and streptomycin 100 micrograms per mL (Invitrogen Corporation, Carlsbad, Calif.). Cells were routinely passaged by trypsinization and dilution when they reached 90% confluence. Cells were seeded into 96-well plates (Falcon-Primaria #353872) at a density of 7000 cells/well for use in RT-PCR analysis.

[0171] For Northern blotting or other analysis, cells may be seeded onto 100 mm or other standard tissue culture plates and treated similarly, using appropriate volumes of medium and oligonucleotide.

[0172] A549 Cells:

[0173] The human lung carcinoma cell line A549 was obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) (Manassas, Va.). A549 cells were routinely cultured in DMEM basal media (Invitrogen Corporation, Carlsbad, Calif.) supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (Invitrogen Corporation, Carlsbad, Calif.), penicillin 100 units per mL, and streptomycin 100 micrograms per mL (Invitrogen Corporation, Carlsbad, Calif.). Cells were routinely passaged by trypsinization and dilution when they reached 90% confluence.

[0174] NHDF Cells:

[0175] Human neonatal dermal fibroblast (NHDF) were obtained from the Clonetics Corporation (Walkersville, Md.). NHDFs were routinely maintained in Fibroblast Growth Medium (Clonetics Corporation, Walkersville, Md.) supplemented as recommended by the supplier. Cells were maintained for up to 10 passages as recommended by the supplier.

[0176] HEK Cells:

[0177] Human embryonic keratinocytes (HEK) were obtained from the Clonetics Corporation (Walkersville, Md.). HEKs were routinely maintained in Keratinocyte Growth Medium (Clonetics Corporation, Walkersville, Md.) formulated as recommended by the supplier. Cells were routinely maintained for up to 10 passages as recommended by the supplier.

[0178] Treatment with Antisense Compounds:

[0179] When cells reached 65-75% confluency, they were treated with oligonucleotide. For cells grown in 96-well plates, wells were washed once with 100 μL OPTI-MEM™-1 reduced-serum medium (Invitrogen Corporation, Carlsbad, Calif.) and then treated with 130 μL of OPTI-MEM™-1 containing 3.75 μg/mL LIPOFECTIN™ (Invitrogen Corporation, Carlsbad, Calif.) and the desired concentration of oligonucleotide. Cells are treated and data are obtained in triplicate. After 4-7 hours of treatment at 37° C., the medium was replaced with fresh medium. Cells were harvested 16-24 hours after oligonucleotide treatment.

[0180] The concentration of oligonucleotide used varies from cell line to cell line. To determine the optimal oligonucleotide concentration for a particular cell line, the cells are treated with a positive control oligonucleotide at a range of concentrations. For human cells the positive control oligonucleotide is selected from either ISIS 13920 (TCCGTCATCGCTCCTCAGGG, SEQ ID NO: 1) which is targeted to human H-ras, or ISIS 18078, (GTGCGCGCGAGCCCGAAATC, SEQ ID NO: 2) which is targeted to human Jun-N-terminal kinase-2 (JNK2). Both controls are 2′-O-methoxyethyl gapmers (2′-O-methoxyethyls shown in bold) with a phosphorothioate backbone. For mouse or rat cells the positive control oligonucleotide is ISIS 15770, ATGCATTCTGCCCCCAAGGA, SEQ ID NO: 3, a 2′-O-methoxyethyl gapmer (2′-O-methoxyethyls shown in bold) with a phosphorothioate backbone which is targeted to both mouse and rat c-raf. The concentration of positive control oligonucleotide that results in 80% inhibition of c-H-ras (for ISIS 13920), JNK2 (for ISIS 18078) or c-raf(for ISIS 15770) mRNA is then utilized as the screening concentration for new oligonucleotides in subsequent experiments for that cell line. If 80% inhibition is not achieved, the lowest concentration of positive control oligonucleotide that results in 60% inhibition of c-H-ras, JNK2 or c-raf mRNA is then utilized as the oligonucleotide screening concentration in subsequent experiments for that cell line. If 60% inhibition is not achieved, that particular cell line is deemed as unsuitable for oligonucleotide transfection experiments. The concentrations of antisense oligonucleotides used herein are from 50 nM to 300 nM.

Example 10

[0181] Analysis of Oligonucleotide Inhibition of Interleukin 18 Expression

[0182] Antisense modulation of Interleukin 18 expression can be assayed in a variety of ways known in the art. For example, Interleukin 18 mRNA levels can be quantitated by, e.g., Northern blot analysis, competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or real-time PCR (RT-PCR). Real-time quantitative PCR is presently preferred. RNA analysis can be performed on total cellular RNA or poly(A)+ mRNA. The preferred method of RNA analysis of the present invention is the use of total cellular RNA as described in other examples herein. Methods of RNA isolation are well known in the art. Northern blot analysis is also routine in the art. Real-time quantitative (PCR) can be conveniently accomplished using the commercially available ABI PRISM™ 7600, 7700, or 7900 Sequence Detection System, available from PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif. and used according to manufacturer's instructions.

[0183] Protein levels of Interleukin 18 can be quantitated in a variety of ways well known in the art, such as immunoprecipitation, Western blot analysis (immunoblotting), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Antibodies directed to Interleukin 18 can be identified and obtained from a variety of sources, such as the MSRS catalog of antibodies (Aerie Corporation, Birmingham, Mich.), or can be prepared via conventional monoclonal or polyclonal antibody generation methods well known in the art.

Example 11

[0184] Design of Phenotypic Assays and In Vivo Studies for the Use of Interleukin 18 Inhibitors

[0185] Phenotypic Assays

[0186] Once Interleukin 18 inhibitors have been identified by the methods disclosed herein, the compounds are further investigated in one or more phenotypic assays, each having measurable endpoints predictive of efficacy in the treatment of a particular disease state or condition. Phenotypic assays, kits and reagents for their use are well known to those skilled in the art and are herein used to investigate the role and/or association of Interleukin 18 in health and disease. Representative phenotypic assays, which can be purchased from any one of several commercial vendors, include those for determining cell viability, cytotoxicity, proliferation or cell survival (Molecular Probes, Eugene, Oreg.; PerkinElmer, Boston, Mass.), protein-based assays including enzymatic assays (Panvera, LLC, Madison, Wis.; BD Biosciences, Franklin Lakes, N.J.; Oncogene Research Products, San Diego, Calif.), cell regulation, signal transduction, inflammation, oxidative processes and apoptosis (Assay Designs Inc., Ann Arbor, Mich.), triglyceride accumulation (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo.), angiogenesis assays, tube formation assays, cytokine and hormone assays and metabolic assays (Chemicon International Inc., Temecula, Calif.; Amersham Biosciences, Piscataway, N.J.).

[0187] In one non-limiting example, cells determined to be appropriate for a particular phenotypic assay (i.e., MCF-7 cells selected for breast cancer studies; adipocytes for obesity studies) are treated with Interleukin 18 inhibitors identified from the in vitro studies as well as control compounds at optimal concentrations which are determined by the methods described above. At the end of the treatment period, treated and untreated cells are analyzed by one or more methods specific for the assay to determine phenotypic outcomes and endpoints.

[0188] Phenotypic endpoints include changes in cell morphology over time or treatment dose as well as changes in levels of cellular components such as proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, hormones, saccharides or metals. Measurements of cellular status which include pH, stage of the cell cycle, intake or excretion of biological indicators by the cell, are also endpoints of interest.

[0189] Analysis of the geneotype of the cell (measurement of the expression of one or more of the genes of the cell) after treatment is also used as an indicator of the efficacy or potency of the Interleukin 18 inhibitors. Hallmark genes, or those genes suspected to be associated with a specific disease state, condition, or phenotype, are measured in both treated and untreated cells.

[0190] In Vivo Studies

[0191] The individual subjects of the in vivo studies described herein are warm-blooded vertebrate animals, which includes humans.

[0192] The clinical trial is subjected to rigorous controls to ensure that individuals are not unnecessarily put at risk and that they are fully informed about their role in the study. To account for the psychological effects of receiving treatments, volunteers are randomly given placebo or Interleukin 18 inhibitor. Furthermore, to prevent the doctors from being biased in treatments, they are not informed as to whether the medication they are administering is a Interleukin 18 inhibitor or a placebo. Using this randomization approach, each volunteer has the same chance of being given either the new treatment or the placebo.

[0193] Volunteers receive either the Interleukin 18 inhibitor or placebo for eight week period with biological parameters associated with the indicated disease state or condition being measured at the beginning (baseline measurements before any treatment), end (after the final treatment), and at regular intervals during the study period. Such measurements include the levels of nucleic acid molecules encoding Interleukin 18 or Interleukin 18 protein levels in body fluids, tissues or organs compared to pre-treatment levels. Other measurements include, but are not limited to, indices of the disease state or condition being treated, body weight, blood pressure, serum titers of pharmacologic indicators of disease or toxicity as well as ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion) measurements.

[0194] Information recorded for each patient includes age (years), gender, height (cm), family history of disease state or condition (yes/no), motivation rating (some/moderate/great) and number and type of previous treatment regimens for the indicated disease or condition.

[0195] Volunteers taking part in this study are healthy adults (age 18 to 65 years) and roughly an equal number of males and females participate in the study. Volunteers with certain characteristics are equally distributed for placebo and Interleukin 18 inhibitor treatment. In general, the volunteers treated with placebo have little or no response to treatment, whereas the volunteers treated with the Interleukin 18 inhibitor show positive trends in their disease state or condition index at the conclusion of the study.

Example 12

[0196] RNA Isolation

[0197] Poly(A)+ mRNA Isolation

[0198] Poly(A)+ mRNA was isolated according to Miura et al., (Clin. Chem., 1996, 42, 1758-1764). Other methods for poly(A)+ mRNA isolation are routine in the art. Briefly, for cells grown on 96-well plates, growth medium was removed from the cells and each well was washed with 200 μL cold PBS. 60 μL lysis buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.6, 1 mM EDTA, 0.5 M NaCl, 0.5% NP-40, 20 mM vanadyl-ribonucleoside complex) was added to each well, the plate was gently agitated and then incubated at room temperature for five minutes. 55 μL of lysate was transferred to Oligo d(T) coated 96-well plates (AGCT Inc., Irvine Calif.). Plates were incubated for 60 minutes at room temperature, washed 3 times with 200 μL of wash buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.6, 1 mM EDTA, 0.3 M NaCl). After the final wash, the plate was blotted on paper towels to remove excess wash buffer and then air-dried for 5 minutes. 60 μL of elution buffer (5 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.6), preheated to 70° C., was added to each well, the plate was incubated on a 90° C. hot plate for 5 minutes, and the eluate was then transferred to a fresh 96-well plate.

[0199] Cells grown on 100 mm or other standard plates may be treated similarly, using appropriate volumes of all solutions.

[0200] Total RNA Isolation

[0201] Total RNA was isolated using an RNEASY 96™ kit and buffers purchased from Qiagen Inc. (Valencia, Calif.) following the manufacturer's recommended procedures. Briefly, for cells grown on 96-well plates, growth medium was removed from the cells and each well was washed with 200 μL cold PBS. 150 μL Buffer RLT was added to each well and the plate vigorously agitated for 20 seconds. 150 μL of 70% ethanol was then added to each well and the contents mixed by pipetting three times up and down. The samples were then transferred to the RNEASY 96™ well plate attached to a QIAVAC™ manifold fitted with a waste collection tray and attached to a vacuum source. Vacuum was applied for 1 minute. 500 μL of Buffer RW1 was added to each well of the RNEASY 96™ plate and incubated for 15 minutes and the vacuum was again applied for 1 minute. An additional 500 μL of Buffer RW1 was added to each well of the RNEASY 96™ plate and the vacuum was applied for 2 minutes. 1 mL of Buffer RPE was then added to each well of the RNEASY 96™ plate and the vacuum applied for a period of 90 seconds. The Buffer RPE wash was then repeated and the vacuum was applied for an additional 3 minutes. The plate was then removed from the QIAVAC™ manifold and blotted dry on paper towels. The plate was then re-attached to the QIAVAC™ manifold fitted with a collection tube rack containing 1.2 mL collection tubes. RNA was then eluted by pipetting 140 μL of RNAse free water into each well, incubating 1 minute, and then applying the vacuum for 3 minutes.

[0202] The repetitive pipetting and elution steps may be automated using a QIAGEN Bio-Robot 9604 (Qiagen, Inc., Valencia Calif.). Essentially, after lysing of the cells on the culture plate, the plate is transferred to the robot deck where the pipetting, DNase treatment and elution steps are carried out.

Example 13

[0203] Real-Time Quantitative PCR Analysis of Interleukin 18 mRNA Levels

[0204] Quantitation of Interleukin 18 mRNA levels was accomplished by real-time quantitative PCR using the ABI PRISM™ 7600, 7700, or 7900 Sequence Detection System (PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) according to manufacturer's instructions. This is a closed-tube, non-gel-based, fluorescence detection system which allows high-throughput quantitation of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products in real-time. As opposed to standard PCR in which amplification products are quantitated after the PCR is completed, products in real-time quantitative PCR are quantitated as they accumulate. This is accomplished by including in the PCR reaction an oligonucleotide probe that anneals specifically between the forward and reverse PCR primers, and contains two fluorescent dyes. A reporter dye (e.g., FAM or JOE, obtained from either PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif., Operon Technologies Inc., Alameda, Calif. or Integrated DNA Technologies Inc., Coralville, Iowa) is attached to the 5′ end of the probe and a quencher dye (e.g., TAMRA, obtained from either PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif., Operon Technologies Inc., Alameda, Calif. or Integrated DNA Technologies Inc., Coralville, Iowa) is attached to the 3′ end of the probe. When the probe and dyes are intact, reporter dye emission is quenched by the proximity of the 3′ quencher dye. During amplification, annealing of the probe to the target sequence creates a substrate that can be cleaved by the 5′-exonuclease activity of Taq polymerase. During the extension phase of the PCR amplification cycle, cleavage of the probe by Taq polymerase releases the reporter dye from the remainder of the probe (and hence from the quencher moiety) and a sequence-specific fluorescent signal is generated. With each cycle, additional reporter dye molecules are cleaved from their respective probes, and the fluorescence intensity is monitored at regular intervals by laser optics built into the ABI PRISM™ Sequence Detection System. In each assay, a series of parallel reactions containing serial dilutions of mRNA from untreated control samples generates a standard curve that is used to quantitate the percent inhibition after antisense oligonucleotide treatment of test samples.

[0205] Prior to quantitative PCR analysis, primer-probe sets specific to the target gene being measured are evaluated for their ability to be “multiplexed” with a GAPDH amplification reaction. In multiplexing, both the target gene and the internal standard gene GAPDH are amplified concurrently in a single sample. In this analysis, mRNA isolated from untreated cells is serially diluted. Each dilution is amplified in the presence of primer-probe sets specific for GAPDH only, target gene only (“single-plexing”), or both (multiplexing). Following PCR amplification, standard curves of GAPDH and target mRNA signal as a function of dilution are generated from both the single-plexed and multiplexed samples. If both the slope and correlation coefficient of the GAPDH and target signals generated from the multiplexed samples fall within 10% of their corresponding values generated from the single-plexed samples, the primer-probe set specific for that target is deemed multiplexable. Other methods of PCR are also known in the art.

[0206] PCR reagents were obtained from Invitrogen Corporation, (Carlsbad, Calif.). RT-PCR reactions were carried out by adding 20 μL PCR cocktail (2.5×PCR buffer minus MgCl₂, 6.6 nM MgCl₂, 375 μM each of DATP, dCTP, dCTP and dGTP, 375 nM each of forward primer and reverse primer, 125 nM of probe, 4 Units RNAse inhibitor, 1.25 Units PLATINUM® Taq, 5 Units MuLV reverse transcriptase, and 2.5×ROX dye) to 96-well plates containing 30 μL total RNA solution (20-200 ng). The RT reaction was carried out by incubation for 30 minutes at 48° C. Following a 10 minute incubation at 95° C. to activate the PLATINUM® Taq, 40 cycles of a two-step PCR protocol were carried out: 95° C. for 15 seconds (denaturation) followed by 60° C. for 1.5 minutes (annealing/extension).

[0207] Gene target quantities obtained by real time RT-PCR are normalized using either the expression level of GAPDH, a gene whose expression is constant, or by quantifying total RNA using RiboGreen™ (Molecular Probes, Inc. Eugene, Oreg.). GAPDH expression is quantified by real time RT-PCR, by being run simultaneously with the target, multiplexing, or separately. Total RNA is quantified using RiboGreen™ RNA quantification reagent (Molecular Probes, Inc. Eugene, Oreg.). Methods of RNA quantification by RiboGreen™ are taught in Jones, L. J., et al, (Analytical Biochemistry, 1998, 265, 368-374).

[0208] In this assay, 170 μL of RiboGreen™ working reagent (RiboGreen™ reagent diluted 1:350 in 10 mM Tris-HCl, 1 mM EDTA, pH 7.5) is pipetted into a 96-well plate containing 30 μL purified, cellular RNA. The plate is read in a CytoFluor 4000 (PE Applied Biosystems) with excitation at 485 nm and emission at 530 nm.

[0209] Probes and primers to human Interleukin 18 were designed to hybridize to a human Interleukin 18 sequence, using published sequence information (a genomic sequence of human Interleukin 18 represented by the complement of residues 16084362-16108226 of GenBank accession number NT_(—)009151.5, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 4). For human Interleukin 18 the PCR primers were: forward primer: AAGGAATTGTCTCCCAGTGCAT (SEQ ID NO: 5) reverse primer: CAGGTGGCAGCCGCTTTA (SEQ ID NO: 6) and the PCR probe was: FAM-TTGCCCTCCTGGCTGCCAACTC-TAMRA (SEQ ID NO: 7) where FAM is the fluorescent dye and TAMRA is the quencher dye. For human GAPDH the PCR primers were: forward primer: GAAGGTGAAGGTCGGAGTC(SEQ ID NO:8) reverse primer: GAAGATGGTGATGGGATTTC (SEQ ID NO:9) and the PCR probe was: 5′ JOE-CAAGCTTCCCGTTCTCAGCC-TAMRA 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 10) where JOE is the fluorescent reporter dye and TAMRA is the quencher dye.

Example 14

[0210] Northern Blot Analysis of Interleukin 18 mRNA Levels

[0211] Eighteen hours after antisense treatment, cell monolayers were washed twice with cold PBS and lysed in 1 mL RNAZOL™ (TEL-TEST “B” Inc., Friendswood, Tex.). Total RNA was prepared following manufacturer's recommended protocols. Twenty micrograms of total RNA was fractionated by electrophoresis through 1.2% agarose gels containing 1.1% formaldehyde using a MOPS buffer system (AMRESCO, Inc. Solon, Ohio). RNA was transferred from the gel to HYBOND™-N+ nylon membranes (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Piscataway, N.J.) by overnight capillary transfer using a Northern/Southern Transfer buffer system (TEL-TEST “B” Inc., Friendswood, Tex.). RNA transfer was confirmed by UV visualization. Membranes were fixed by UV cross-linking using a STRATALINKER™ UV Crosslinker 2400 (Stratagene, Inc, La Jolla, Calif.) and then probed using QUICKHYB™ hybridization solution (Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif.) using manufacturer's recommendations for stringent conditions.

[0212] To detect human Interleukin 18, a human Interleukin 18 specific probe was prepared by PCR using the forward primer AAGGAATTGTCTCCCAGTGCAT (SEQ ID NO: 5) and the reverse primer CAGGTGGCAGCCGCTTTA (SEQ ID NO: 6). To normalize for variations in loading and transfer efficiency membranes were stripped and probed for human glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) RNA (Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.).

[0213] Hybridized membranes were visualized and quantitated using a PHOSPHORIMAGER™ and IMAGEQUANT™ Software V3.3 (Molecular Dynamics, Sunnyvale, Calif.). Data was normalized to GAPDH levels in untreated controls.

Example 15

[0214] Antisense Inhibition of Human Interleukin 18 Expression by Chimeric Phosphorothioate Oligonucleotides having 2′-MOE Wings and a Deoxy Gap

[0215] In accordance with the present invention, a series of antisense compounds were designed to target different regions of the human Interleukin 18 RNA, using published sequences (a genomic sequence of human Interleukin 18 represented by the complement of residues 16084362-16108226 of GenBank accession number NT_(—)009151.5, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 4; and GenBank accession number D49950.1, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 11). The compounds are shown in Table 1. “Target Site” indicates the first (5′-most) nucleotide number on the particular target sequence to which the compound binds. All compounds in Table 1 are chimeric oligonucleotides (“gapmers”) 20 nucleotides in length, composed of a central “gap” region consisting of ten 2′-deoxynucleotides, which is flanked on both sides (5′ and 3′ directions) by five-nucleotide “wings”. The wings are composed of 2′-methoxyethyl (2′-MOE)nucleotides. The internucleoside (backbone) linkages are phosphorothioate (P═S) throughout the oligonucleotide. All cytidine residues are 5-methylcytidines. The compounds were analyzed for their effect on human Interleukin 18 mRNA levels by quantitative real-time PCR as described in other examples herein. Data are averages from three experiments in which T-24 cells were treated with the oligonucleotides of the present invention. The positive control for each datapoint is identified in the table by sequence ID number. If present, “N.D.” indicates “no data”. TABLE 1 Inhibition of human Interleukin 18 mRNA levels by chimeric phosphorothioate oligonucleotides having 2′-MOE wings and a deoxy gap TARGET CONTROL SEQ ID TARGET SEQ ID SEQ ID ISIS # REGION NO SITE SEQUENCE % INHIB NO NO 163744 Coding 11 387 tatctctacagtcagaatca 35 13 2 163745 Coding 4 10534 caattgtcttctactggttc 58 14 2 163746 Coding 4 15435 aatttagattcaagcttgcc 0 15 2 163747 Coding 4 21856 atgtcctgggacacttctct 71 16 2 163748 5′UTR 4 1600 gccgctttagcagccagagt 7 17 2 163749 5′UTR 4 1612 cagcaggtggcagccgcttt 15 18 2 163750 Coding 11 265 tctgattccaggttttcatc 34 19 2 163751 Coding 4 16909 gctatctttatacatactta 60 20 2 163752 5′UTR 4 1544 tccttgctgactgtccaggc 20 21 2 163753 Coding 4 21914 tttcacaagctagaaagtat 41 22 2 163754 Coding 4 10537 atgcaattgtcttctactgg 58 23 2 163755 Coding 11 249 catcatcttcagctataaag 7 24 2 163756 5′UTR 4 1637 cctcttcccgaagctgtgta 87 25 163757 Coding 4 16991 aggaaataattttgttctca 12 26 2 163758 Coding 4 16919 ctctaggctggctatcttta 41 27 2 163759 Coding 4 16960 tgaaattttctcacacttca 49 28 2 163760 Start 11 163 gccatctttattcctgcgac 1 29 2 Codon 163761 5′UTR 4 1552 gagacaattccttgctgact 74 30 163762 Coding 4 267 aatctgattccaggttttca 39 31 2 163763 Coding 4 21868 catcttattatcatgtcctg 37 32 2 163764 5′UTR 4 1654 aggtctgaggttcctttcct 37 33 2 163765 Start 4 10527 cttctactggttcagcagcc 58 34 2 Codon 163766 Coding 4 16934 tagttacagccatacctcta 32 35 2 163767 Coding 11 251 ttcatcatcttcagctataa 36 36 2 163768 Coding 4 21899 agtatccttcgtatgatgaa 42 37 2 163769 Start 4 162 ccatctttattcctgcgaca 34 38 2 Codon 163770 5′UTR 4 1678 tgttgcgagaggaagcgatc 20 39 2 163771 5′UTR 4 1618 agactgcagcaggtggcagc 53 40 2 163772 Coding 4 21907 agctagaaagtatccttcgt 68 41 2 163773 Coding 4 21873 aattgcatcttattatcatg 36 42 2 163774 Coding 4 15510 gtcatatcttcaaatagagg 11 43 2 163775 5′UTR 4 1572 aggagggcaaaatgcactgg 36 44 2 163776 Coding 4 15486 tttccttggtcaatgaagag 0 45 2 163777 Coding 4 21995 cgttttgaacagtgaacatt 63 46 2 163778 5′UTR 4 1692 tgcgacaaatagtttgttgc 58 47 2 163779 Coding 4 21866 tcttattatcatgtcctggg 51 48 2 163780 5′UTR 4 1687 caaatagtttgttgcgagag 0 49 2 204541 Coding 4 10547 cacaaagttgatgcaattgt 80 50 2 204542 Coding 4 10553 cattgccacaaagttgatgc 82 51 2 204543 Coding 4 10563 caataaatttcattgccaca 68 52 2 204544 Coding 4 10583 tataaagtaaagcgtattgt 49 53 2 204545 Coding 4 15425 caagcttgccaaagtaatct 90 54 2 204546 Coding 4 15445 tatgactgataatttagatt 52 55 2 204547 Coding 4 15452 aatttcttatgactgataat 39 56 2 204548 Coding 4 15457 attcaaatttcttatgactg 43 57 2 204549 Coding 4 15465 acttggtcattcaaatttct 87 58 2 204550 Coding 4 15474 atgaagagaacttggtcatt 84 59 2 204551 Coding 4 15520 gtcagaatcagtcatatctt 85 60 2 204552 Coding 4 16892 ttataataaatatggtccgg 80 61 2 204553 Coding 4 16947 cacttcacagagatagttac 74 62 2 204554 Coding 4 16975 ctcacaggagagagttgaaa 75 63 2 204555 Coding 11 528 gattcatttccttaaaggaa 61 64 2 204556 Coding 4 21802 gttatcaggaggattcattt 84 65 2 204557 Coding 4 21813 gtatccttgatgttatcagg 86 66 2 204558 Coding 4 21834 aagaatatgatgtcactttt 68 67 2 204559 Coding 4 21837 tgaaagaatatgatgtcact 78 68 2 204560 Coding 4 21843 cttctctgaaagaatatgat 74 69 2 204561 Coding 4 21845 cacttctctgaaagaatatg 65 70 2 204562 Coding 4 21886 tgatgaagattcaaattgca 64 71 2 204563 Coding 4 21889 gtatgatgaagattcaaatt 79 72 2 204564 Stop 4 22005 agctagtcttcgttttgaac 88 73 2 Codon 204565 Stop 4 22013 attttaatagctagtcttcg 79 74 2 Codon 204566 5′UTR 4 1533 tgtccaggcagtcgccaggg 74 75 2 204567 5′UTR 4 1539 gctgactgtccaggcagtcg 70 76 2 204568 Intron 4 5854 tgttcattgaatttggcaat 56 77 2 204569 Intron 4 7001 aatacatcccttagcacttg 47 78 2 204570 Intron: 4 10507 atctttattcctaatgaaag 0 79 2 exon junction 204571 Exon: 4 10594 ttagccttacctataaagta 15 80 2 intron junction 204572 Exon: 4 17006 tcagtcttaccttaaaggaa 41 81 2 intron junction 204573 Intron 4 17503 catcaactggaagctgaagc 80 82 2 204574 Intron 4 20355 ctaagttgatgaaagtataa 0 83 2 204575 Intron: 4 21791 gattcatttcctatagagaa 39 84 2 exon junction

[0216] As shown in Table 1, SEQ ID NOs: 14, 16, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27, 28, 30, 34, 37, 40, 41, 46, 47, 48, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 81 and 82 demonstrated at least 40% inhibition of human Interleukin 18 expression in this assay and are therefore preferred. More preferred are SEQ ID NOs: 16, 25 and 30. The target regions to which these preferred sequences are complementary are herein referred to as “preferred target segments” and are therefore preferred for targeting by compounds of the present invention. These preferred target segments are shown in Table 2. The sequences represent the reverse complement of the preferred antisense compounds shown in Table 1. “Target site” indicates the first (5′-most) nucleotide number on the particular target nucleic acid to which the oligonucleotide binds. Also shown in Table 2 is the species in which each of the preferred target segments was found. TABLE 2 Sequence and position of preferred target segments identified in Interleukin 18. TARGET SEQ ID TARGET REV COMP SEQ ID SITEID NO SITE SEQUENCE OF SEQ ID ACTIVE IN NO 79224 12 10534 gaaccagtagaagacaattg 14 H. sapiens 85 79226 12 21856 agagaagtgtcccaggacat 16 H. sapiens 86 79230 12 16909 taagtatgtataaagatagc 20 H. sapiens 87 79232 12 21914 atactttctagcttgtgaaa 22 H. sapiens 88 79233 12 10537 ccagtagaagacaattgcat 23 H. sapiens 89 79235 12 1637 tacacagcttcgggaagagg 25 H. sapiens 90 79237 12 16919 taaagatagccagcctagag 27 H. sapiens 91 79238 12 16960 tgaagtgtgagaaaatttca 28 H. sapiens 92 79240 12 1552 agtcagcaaggaattgtctc 30 H. sapiens 93 79244 12 10527 ggctgctgaaccagtagaag 34 H. sapiens 94 79247 12 21899 ttcatcatacgaaggatact 37 H. sapiens 95 79250 12 1618 gctgccacctgctgcagtct 40 H. sapiens 96 79251 12 21907 acgaaggatactttctagct 41 H. sapiens 97 79256 12 21995 aatgttcactgttcaaaacg 46 H. sapiens 98 79257 12 1692 gcaacaaactatttgtcgca 47 H. sapiens 99 79258 12 21866 cccaggacatgataataaga 48 H. sapiens 100 122255 12 10547 acaattgcatcaactttgtg 50 H. sapiens 101 122256 12 10553 gcatcaactttgtggcaatg 51 H. sapiens 102 122257 12 10563 tgtggcaatgaaatttattg 52 H. sapiens 103 122258 12 10583 acaatacgctttactttata 53 H. sapiens 104 122259 12 15425 agattactttggcaagcttg 54 H. sapiens 105 122260 12 15445 aatctaaattatcagtcata 55 H. sapiens 106 122262 12 15457 cagtcataagaaatttgaat 57 H. sapiens 107 122263 12 15465 agaaatttgaatgaccaagt 58 H. sapiens 108 122264 12 15474 aatgaccaagttctcttcat 59 H. sapiens 109 122265 12 15520 aagatatgactgattctgac 60 H. sapiens 110 122266 12 16892 ccggaccatatttattataa 61 H. sapiens 111 122267 12 16947 gtaactatctctgtgaagtg 62 H. sapiens 112 122268 12 16975 tttcaactctctcctgtgag 63 H. sapiens 113 122269 4 528 ttcctttaaggaaatgaatc 64 H. sapiens 114 122270 12 21802 aaatgaatcctcctgataac 65 H. sapiens 115 122271 12 21813 cctgataacatcaaggatac 66 H. sapiens 116 122272 12 21834 aaaagtgacatcatattctt 67 H. sapiens 117 122273 12 21837 agtgacatcatattctttca 68 H. sapiens 118 122274 12 21843 atcatattctttcagagaag 69 H. sapiens 119 122275 12 21845 catattctttcagagaagtg 70 H. sapiens 120 122276 12 21886 tgcaatttgaatcttcatca 71 H. sapiens 121 122277 12 21889 aatttgaatcttcatcatac 72 H. sapiens 122 122278 12 22005 gttcaaaacgaagactagct 73 H. sapiens 123 122279 12 22013 cgaagactagctattaaaat 74 H. sapiens 124 122280 12 1533 ccctggcgactgcctggaca 75 H. sapiens 125 122281 12 1539 cgactgcctggacagtcagc 76 H. sapiens 126 122282 12 5854 attgccaaattcaatgaaca 77 H. sapiens 127 122283 12 7001 caagtgctaagggatgtatt 78 H. sapiens 128 122286 12 17006 ttcctttaaggtaagactga 81 H. sapiens 129 122287 12 17503 gcttcagcttccagttgatg 82 H. sapiens 130

[0217] As these “preferred target segments” have been found by experimentation to be open to, and accessible for, hybridization with the antisense compounds of the present invention, one of skill in the art will recognize or be able to ascertain, using no more than routine experimentation, further embodiments of the invention that encompass other compounds that specifically hybridize to these preferred target segments and consequently inhibit the expression of Interleukin 18.

[0218] According to the present invention, antisense compounds include antisense oligomeric compounds, antisense oligonucleotides, ribozymes, external guide sequence (EGS) oligonucleotides, alternate splicers, primers, probes, and other short oligomeric compounds which hybridize to at least a portion of the target nucleic acid.

Example 16

[0219] Western Blot Analysis of Interleukin 18 Protein Levels

[0220] Western blot analysis (immunoblot analysis) is carried out using standard methods. Cells are harvested 16-20 h after oligonucleotide treatment, washed once with PBS, suspended in Laemmli buffer (100 ul/well), boiled for 5 minutes and loaded on a 16% SDS-PAGE gel. Gels are run for 1.5 hours at 150 V, and transferred to membrane for western blotting. Appropriate primary antibody directed to Interleukin 18 is used, with a radiolabeled or fluorescently labeled secondary antibody directed against the primary antibody species. Bands are visualized using a PHOSPHORIMAGER™ (Molecular Dynamics, Sunnyvale Calif.).

0 SEQUENCE LISTING <160> NUMBER OF SEQ ID NOS: 130 <210> SEQ ID NO 1 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 1 tccgtcatcg ctcctcaggg 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 2 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 2 gtgcgcgcga gcccgaaatc 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 3 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 3 atgcattctg cccccaagga 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 4 <211> LENGTH: 23865 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 4 acaaaggaca ctgagacatt tgttgctcta tatcaaagaa aaaagtgttt gtcccaaaac 60 ttcaaaatgt gtaaattaca cattctgcat ctttacagct ggagaaaatt cactggcaat 120 ggaatattta aaattagagc ttgcttagtg tgctgcttct gatcactact tgatcccact 180 tcgtgctttc atgttaattg gcccaattgg actctacagt tggaaggtga aaacttacta 240 tttcaacttg agtcacgtat gtattcttat catatacttc ttaaaggtac tatttttttt 300 cttctgatag tcaccacacc aagcacttcc agccaccctg ccacagactt cctttgtaat 360 cactgttgaa ggacatgatg tttttatgac ttcccgaaat gaaaacccta tcttgttttt 420 aaaacaaaca aaccaacaaa aagtagtgtt tatgtaagca ttttgttccc tgactctagg 480 aacccctctg tttttatatc aactctgtac tggcaaaaca caaaaacaaa atgccacctt 540 gctaattccc ttcctagcaa agtaatacag tttagcacat gttcaagaaa aaaatggcta 600 agaaattttg tttccactaa ttattttcaa gactgtgata tttacactct gctcttcaaa 660 cgttacattt tataagacta ttttttaaca tgttgaacat aagccctaaa tatatgtatc 720 cttaaattgt atttcaaata ttttaggtca gtctttgcta tcattccagg aatagaaagt 780 tttaacactg gaaactgcaa gtaaatattt gccctcttac ctgaattttg gtatccctct 840 ccccaagctt actttctgtt gcagaaagtg taaaaattat taaataaaat tctaatgatg 900 gtatccgtgt ggcttgcatc tgatacagca gataaagaag ttttatgaaa atggactcct 960 gttccactga aaagtaaatc ttaatggcct gtatcaacta tcctttgaca ccatattgag 1020 cttgggagga aggggaagtc ctgaatgagg ttataaagta aaagaaaata tttgcaaaat 1080 gttccttttt ttaaaatgtt acattttaga aatattttaa gtgttgtaac attgtaggaa 1140 ttaccccaat aggactgatt attccgcatt gtaaaataag aaaaagtttt gtgctgaagt 1200 gtgaccagga agtctgaaaa tgaagagaga cagatgacaa aagaagatgc ttctaatgga 1260 ctaaggaggt gctttcttaa agtcagaaag agatactcag aaagaggtac aggttttgga 1320 aggcacagag ccccaacttt tacggaagaa aagatttcat gaaaatagtg atattacatt 1380 aaaagaagta ctcgtatcct ctgccacttt atttcgactt ccattgccct aggaaagagc 1440 ctgtttgaag gcgggcccaa ggagtgccga cagcagtctc ctccctccac cttcttcctc 1500 attctctccc cagcttgctg agccctttgc tcccctggcg actgcctgga cagtcagcaa 1560 ggaattgtct cccagtgcat tttgccctcc tggctgccaa ctctggctgc taaagcggct 1620 gccacctgct gcagtctaca cagcttcggg aagaggaaag gaacctcaga ccttccagat 1680 cgcttcctct cgcaacaaac tatttgtcgc aggtaagaaa tatcattcct ctttatttgg 1740 aaagtcagcc atggcaatta gaggtaaata agctagaaag caattgagag gaatataaac 1800 catctagcat cactacgatg agcagtcagt atcaacataa gaaatataag caaagtcaga 1860 gtagaatttt tttcttttat cagatatggg agagtatcac tttagaggag aggttctcaa 1920 actttttgct ctcatgttcc ctttacacta agcacatcac atgttagcat aagtaacatt 1980 tttaattaaa aataactatg tactttttta acaacaaaaa aaaagcataa agagtgacac 2040 ttttttattt ttacaagtgt tttaactggt ttaatagaag ccatatagat ctgctggatt 2100 ctcatctgct ttgcattcag actattgcaa tattgcacag aatgtagcct ctggtaaact 2160 ctgttgtaca ctcatgagag aatgagtgaa aaagacaaat tacgtcttag aattattaga 2220 aatagctttc actttaggaa ctccctgaga attgctgctt tagagtggta aaataaataa 2280 gcttctcttt aaacggaatc tcaagacaga atcagttaca ttaaaagcaa acaaaaaatt 2340 tgcccatggt tagtcatctt gtgaaatctg ccacaccttt ggactgggct acaattggat 2400 aatatagcat tccccgagat aattttcttt cacaattaag gaaagggctg aataaatatc 2460 tctgtttgaa gttgaataac aaaaattagg accccctaaa ttttaggact cctgaaattc 2520 gtctttttgc ctatattcag ctactttacg ttctattaaa tcttctttca ggccaggtgc 2580 actagctcat gcctagaatc tcaggcaggc ctgagcccag gaatttgaga ccagccaggg 2640 caacacagtc tctacaaaaa aataaaaaat tacctgggtg tgttggtgca tgcctgtaga 2700 actactcagg atgctgagga ctgcttgagc ccaggatagc caaatctgtg gtgagttcag 2760 ccactaaaca gagcgagact ttctcaaaaa aacaaacaaa aaaacaaaca aacttccttc 2820 aaaataactt tttatctgca atgttttcct attgcctgtg agattaaatt tactctttta 2880 cctgatttcc aaagccctcc ataatctaat ccgactttac cttgtgttca ctgcaaaata 2940 gcaggactgt tccactacaa tccaaaaatc acaggttggg tgcagtggct cactcctgta 3000 atcccaacac tttggaaggc caaggcaggt ggattgcttc agctcaggag ttcaagacca 3060 gcctgggcaa catggcaaaa accctgtctc tccaaaacat acaaaaatta gccagatgtg 3120 gtagtatgtg cctgtagtcc caactactca aaaggctaag gcaagaggat cacttgagcc 3180 caggaggtca aggctacagt gagccatgtt tgctgtgtca ctgcactcca gcctgggtga 3240 tagagcaaga ccatgtctca aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaagaaa agaaaagaaa aaaacatcgc 3300 tctattcagt tcacccccac cacaacattg ttttgattat cacataaatg ctggtccatt 3360 gccttctcta tctattcaaa tctttaagca ttctttgaga ttcaactcaa ttctcctttt 3420 caaactaggc catttaaact acatcagttc cattttgatt tttttgcttt gagtctacag 3480 actcaaaaac aaaaacttaa aaacttattt tttaagtttt ctgctactct cacctcttca 3540 acactcacat acacgcattc ataataagat ggcagaatgt tcaaggataa aatgatttat 3600 agaactgaaa agttaggttt tgatcttgtt gctgtcaaga tgactaccta cctgatctca 3660 ggtaattaat tatgtagcat gctccctcat ttcatcccat acctattcaa caggattgga 3720 attccacagc aaggataaac ataatcatag ttgcttttca agttcaaggc attttaactt 3780 ttaatctagt agtatgtttg ttgttgttgt tgttgtttga gatggagccc tgctgtgtca 3840 cccaggctgg agtgcagtgg cacgaactcg gctcactgca acctctgcct catgggttca 3900 atcagttatt ctgcctcagt gtcccaagta gctgggacta caaggcacat gccaccatgc 3960 ctggctaatt tttgtatttt tagtagaaac agggtttcac catgttggcc aggctggtct 4020 cgaactcctg acctcaagtg atccagccgc ctcggcctcc caaagtgctg gtattacagg 4080 cataagccac cgtgcccagc ctaatagtat gtttttaaac tcttagtggc ttaacaatgc 4140 tggttgtata ataaatatgc cataaatatt tactgtctta gaattatgaa gaagtggtta 4200 ctaggccgtt tgccacatat caatggttct ctccttacag ctttaactag agtctagaat 4260 tgcaggttgg tagagctgga acagacctta aagactgact agccaacttc cttgtccaaa 4320 tgagggaact gagaccctta aaattaagtg acttgcccca gacaaaactg gaactcatgt 4380 gtcctaattt ccatcatgaa attctaccat tcactagcct ctggctagtt gtcaaagtat 4440 tgcataacta aatttttatg tctgttttaa agaacaaatt gtcactgctt actcctggga 4500 ggatctttct gaggtggttt ataactctta aaaaaaaaaa aagtcagtag tctgagaatt 4560 ttagatgaaa tagtcaaagc atttttatcc aatggatact ataattttca tagattagag 4620 ttaaagcaaa gaaacacgga tgagaaagga agaggaaaat tgaggagagg aggaatgggg 4680 atgagaacac actacttgta atcagtcata gatgtattga gaactaacaa gaagaattgt 4740 aagaaaataa gaatgaagaa ttcaaaatca acacatgaaa taaaaaagaa actactaggg 4800 aaaaatggag aagacattag aaaaattatt ctatttttaa aattctgttt tcaggcttcc 4860 ctcctgttct tcctccttct cattggcttt caggtggagg gaaagtttaa gatagaaaaa 4920 atatatatat tctacacatc cctttctacg ctgttgtcat ggcaacaagg tttatcatag 4980 caaactttta ttcatacaac atttattgag ttcttactgt gtggtaagct ctttccaggt 5040 gttgaaaatt caggggaaaa aagacaactc attgtcttaa aactcagatg aaagctgaac 5100 agacctattt ttaatcaaag taatctcaat ttagggtagt aagagctatt taagaagcat 5160 gaacaggtgt gaaggaggta ggactctgag gagagaataa ttagctagga atgaaagagc 5220 agagaagttt tcctagagga actattaaag ctgggagtta cgggatgaaa gatgaggcag 5280 ggtttgcagg caaaaaaaaa aaaaaaggca ggggaagggg aagttctggc ctggcagaga 5340 gaataactgt ggcaacaatg gaggagagtc tggaagcaag aaaaccaagt agaagagtat 5400 taaaatagaa gatgccaggg gtaatgaggg cttgatttaa aacagtgctg ttggagatgg 5460 agaggagata ccaaattctg gagacatttc tgagttagaa tctacagtat ttatcagaca 5520 agggaaagat tagacaaagg agttaagaat gactcccagg tttcagtttg gggcaggtaa 5580 ctaggacatg ttttgaaaag taatgtatta gatctcttac cattggaact atgtatgtgg 5640 agccaaatta aaatttgtac atgtatataa ctctcccccc accaccagta actacttccc 5700 taactctcta ctttgtagcc agacttccta aaagaatagt ttgtagtcac tgtctttact 5760 tttcccctcc cattctgtcc tagatatttg tccacctacc atctgctgcc tccactttac 5820 ccaaactgtt ctacggttgc ccaaaacttc ctaattgcca aattcaatga acaagtttaa 5880 gcttatatgt aaattaggag ctctacagtt tgatttcgag cagcccctcc tgaaaccctt 5940 tctcttttga cttctgtgac acatctcaga tttacaaaac tgaactaatt attttacact 6000 tgagctgtat tttcgttctt ttttcttaat gaatgaggta accactcaac aaattgccca 6060 agccaaaaac tacgaagtca tcctcagttc ctccttcttc tgtttgaccc acaacagatc 6120 agctgagaaa tcccgctgtt tagtatgtta aaattacttc agtagttgtt gtctgacctc 6180 tgtccaatct tgttcaatca ggtccattct tttgttcttg gtggtggtgg tggtgttgac 6240 agagtttcgc ttttgctgcc caggctgaag tgcagtggag cacttcactg caaccacagc 6300 ctcctgggtt taagcagttc accctcccga gtagctggga ctacaggtat gtgccaccac 6360 acccagctaa ttttgtgttt tcagtagaga cagggtttca ccatgttggt caggctggtc 6420 tcaaactcct gacctcaagc aatccaccca cctcagcctc ccaaagtgct gggattacag 6480 gcatgagcca ctgcacacgg accagatcca ttgtttatgt tgcttctaga gtgagttttt 6540 aaaacacaaa tttgaccata tctttctcct atttaagtca gtattttttt tttcaggaaa 6600 aaacagttca aactctttag tctgcttaca caaggccttt gtagtctgac tcttctttcc 6660 aagctttcat caaagtatac tgcaagttgc attttatgtg aattgaatta ggcaacggta 6720 taaaaattat agtttatatg ggcaaaatgg aaataatgtt aactcttcca aatagtttat 6780 ctagaatgac ataatttcaa agctgtcagg tcaaatgagt tataaactgt taacactatt 6840 gccacatgca agtgtctctt atacttggta gaattatctg cttccatgtc attattatgt 6900 aaattagact ttaaataact cagaagttct tcagacatac aggttattat tgtgcttttt 6960 aaacataatt ttaaataatt ttatatatga taatgttatc caagtgctaa gggatgtatt 7020 gttactgctg tgcaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaactcc aaataaatat gttgaaacca 7080 agtttatatg caagaaaaca atattaaaaa ggccaaagta ccaccataat aggctgtgtg 7140 gagacagcag gctacaaaac actagtaata atgctgagaa agttgaaaaa agaaagaaag 7200 caacaatatg ctttggttgt tgtaggttta tgtactccaa gaatatctcc tctcaaactt 7260 ttacgttttt tccaaagaaa agttaacttt ggctgggcgc agtggctctt gcctgtagtc 7320 ccagcctttg ggaggccaag gcgggcagat cacctgaggt caggagtttg agaccagcct 7380 gaccaacatg gagaaacccg cccccctcac tactaaaaga atacaaaatt aggccgggca 7440 cagtggctta cccctgtaat cccagcactt tgggaggccg aagcaggaag atcacctgag 7500 gtcaggagtt cgagaccagc catggagaaa cccgtctcta ctaaaaatac aaaattagcc 7560 gggcgtggtg gtgcatgact gtaatcccag ctactcagga ggctaaggca gagaatcact 7620 tgaacccagg cagtggaggt tgcagtgagc cgagatcgtg ccattgcact ccagcctggg 7680 caacaagagc gaaactctgt atccaaaaaa caaaagaaaa gaaaaggtaa ccttgaacta 7740 tgtgagatct ttagaaatgc attctttctg taaaatgtga ctacatttgc cttatttatg 7800 gtaaaaatgt tgaggcctca aacaacccat attttctcgg tctccccgct gcctagcctt 7860 tgttcacatt gcttcttctt ggtggaagct cttcctctgg ccttgaaaat gcctgcttct 7920 ctttcaaggt agcacagtca tcactttctg tggtaacctt ctccagcacc atcaaacaga 7980 aagaatgaat ctcttgtaaa ttcagctctt acgtcattca ttacattatt ttgtaactct 8040 ttatagattc ttctctccca ctagactctg agtcactgga gagtaggagc caactctcat 8100 tcatgtgtgg tttggtcagc tactggccac attcctgatg catagttaat gctcaaacct 8160 taactggtga atcagctcaa atattgtcct tctctaaatc cattcactca ttgactaact 8220 atgtactcaa aatagtaaac accagtaatt taatccaatt cctgcccata ctgcttggta 8280 catttcaggt gaattagttt gataaatatg tgtgtattac ataatattaa agtatgtaca 8340 gaagatcatg ctaatcatta tttcaccaac tgataactaa tcaaaacata gagtgcctct 8400 caggttaaca aatgtctgcc ttctcagtta atgcagtcat taacaaacac cttctgatgc 8460 tgataatagg gccttgttca gcaatgaagc cataaaggtg aataaagaac atgccctcgt 8520 ggagctcaca gcctagtcat tattgttctg atttttaata ttaatgttgg tttgggtttt 8580 ggtgaaaaat gtttagactt atcttagtga tcttttcatc ctttgctata ttatttttct 8640 ctaagagtct tccttatccc ctcctttaaa aaactaggtg ataattctaa attgtaaatt 8700 taaatattat aaatagctta taaaatttaa tatttataat atttaaatgt ttgataaata 8760 tttaaatttt ataatattta aatgtttatt taaattcatt tgtacatcag tttttatttt 8820 atttaaatgt gttggccagg catggtggct gacacctata atcccagaac tttgagaggc 8880 caagtcaggc aaaccatttg agctcaggag tttgagacca ccctgggcaa cgtggtgaaa 8940 ccctgtctct accaaacata tgaaaactta tctgggtgtg gtggcacgca tctgtggtcc 9000 cagatgggag tcccaggcta agatgggaga atcgcttgaa cccaggtgag aggggtgggg 9060 tggatgttgc agtgagctga gatcgtgcca ctgcactcca acctgggtga cagagtgaga 9120 ctccatctca aaaaaaaaaa atgttatcta aataagataa atttaataac tgttcgcact 9180 tagatgagca taaggaacta aacctagata aaactatcaa ataaggcctg ggtacagtga 9240 ctcatgcctg taatctcaag cactttggga ggccaaaatt atacaaagtt agttgtataa 9300 caccaactaa caactatttt ggggttagct taattcagat taattttttt taaactgagt 9360 tttaaattcc tgcttactct accatacatg ctaggcctca tattatgcta gaaaaatttt 9420 gagcacagat ttatgaatac tctcctgcat accatttaat ttttaaacaa attttaatgc 9480 agtatatatg tgccttttta ccaacacatt aaataataag atctactgtg aggactaaac 9540 ttctgtaatt tcaaagtagt aatgagttta aaccatgtct caagatctct gcaataactg 9600 tagcacaaca gaaaataggt atttctatta atgacagagt cacaagtact actaataata 9660 ctgtggtttg tttcctgcaa ctaatcatgg gaggaatgct aaatttcaga ggttggtgaa 9720 aatacatgtg tatttttttc cccatccaag ttcacagatt tctcacactg agaactccta 9780 ttccataaca aaattctgga agcctgcaca ccgtattgga agaggggcag aaaggaaaag 9840 caaatggaag gatttaaatt tttttcaaat cctgtatccc ttgattttac agcaagattg 9900 tatttatgta ttacttgtgt taaaaatata gtataatcga gactccagat caaaaatcac 9960 cgcagctcag ggagaaagag ggccaccaaa tgccagagcc cttcagcctt ctcccaccct 10020 gcctgtaccc tcagatggaa gcactttttt atcattgttt cacctttagc attttgacaa 10080 tgaagtcaca aaccttcagc ctctcaccca taggaaccca ctggttgtaa gagaaggatg 10140 aagccagtcc ttcctaaagg gcacgattag atgtgtttat ggcatcctca ggtgaaacta 10200 tatttatatt gacaatatat ttatatttct caaggaatac tagaataatg attcagttca 10260 gtactaggcc atttatctac cctttataat attgtttaat gagaaaatgc tttctatctt 10320 ccaaatatct gatgatttgt aagagaacac ttaaacatgg gtattcataa gctgaaactt 10380 ctgggattta ttgaatgtca agattgttca tcagtatact aggtgattaa ctgaccactg 10440 aacttgaagg tagtataaag tagtagtaaa aggtacaatc attgtctctt aacagatggc 10500 tctttgcttt cattaggaat aaagatggct gctgaaccag tagaagacaa ttgcatcaac 10560 tttgtggcaa tgaaatttat tgacaatacg ctttacttta taggtaaggc taatgccata 10620 gaacaaatac caggttcaga taaatctatt caattagaaa agatgttgtg aggtgaacta 10680 ttaagtgact ctttttgtca ccaaatttca ctgtaatatt aatggctctt aaaaaaatag 10740 tggacctcta gaaattaacc acaacatgtc caaggtctca gcaccttgtc acaccacgtg 10800 tcctggcact ttaatcagca gtagctcact ctccagttgg cagtaagtgc acatcatgaa 10860 aatcccagtt ttcatgggaa aatcccagtt ttcattggat ttccatggga aaaatcccca 10920 gtacaaaact gggtgcattc aggaaataca atttcccaaa gcaaattggc aaattatgta 10980 agagattctc taaatttaga gttctgtgaa ttacaccatt ttatgtaaat atgtttgaca 11040 agtaaaaatt gattcttttt tttttttttc tgttgcccag gctggagtgc agtggcacaa 11100 tctctgctca ctgcaacctc cacctcctgg gttcaagcaa ttctcctgcc tcagccttct 11160 gagtagctgg gactacaggt gcatcccacc atgcctggct aattttttgt atttttacta 11220 gagacagggt tttgccatgt tgtccaggct ggtcttgaac tcctgatctc agatgatcct 11280 cctgcctcgg cctcccaaag tgctgggatt acaggcatga accaccacac atggcctaaa 11340 aattgattct tatgattaat cttctgtgaa caatttggct tcatttgaaa gtttgccttc 11400 atttgaaacc ttcatttaaa agcctgagca acaaagtgag accccatctc tacaaaaaac 11460 tgcaaaatat cctgtggaca cctcctacct tctttggagg ctgaagcagg aggatcactt 11520 gagcctagga atttgagcct gcagtgagct atgatcccac ccctacactc cagcctgcat 11580 gacagtagac cctgacacac acacacaaaa aaaaaccttc ataaaaaatt attagttgac 11640 ttttcttagg tgactttccg tttaagcaat aaatttaaaa gtaaaatctc taattttata 11700 aaatttattt ttagttacat attgaaattt ttaaacccta ggtttaagtt ttatgtctaa 11760 attacctgag aacacactaa gtctgataag cttcatttta tgggcctttt ggatgattat 11820 ataatattct gatgaaagcc aagacagacc cttaaaccat aaaaatagga gttcgagaaa 11880 gaggagtagc aaaagtaaaa gctagaatga gattgaattc tgagtcgaaa tacaaaattt 11940 tacatattct gtttctctct ttttccccct cttagctgaa gatgatggta aagtagaaat 12000 gaatttattt ttctttgcaa actaagtatc tgcttgagac acatctatct caccattgtc 12060 agctgaggaa aaaaaaaaat ggttctcatg ctaccaatct gccttcaaag aaatgtggac 12120 tcagtagcac agctttggaa tgaagatgat cataagagat acaaagaaga acctctagca 12180 aaagatgctt ctctatgcct taaaaaattc tccagctctt agaatctaca aaatagactt 12240 tgcctgtttc ataggtccta agattagcat gaagtcatgg attctgttgt agggggagcg 12300 ttgcatagga aaaagggatt gaagcattag aattgtccaa aatcagtaac acctcctctc 12360 agaaatgctt tgggaagaag cctggaaggt tccgggttgg tggtggggtg gggcagaaaa 12420 ttctggaagt agaggagata ggaatgggtg gggcaagaag accacattca gaggccaaaa 12480 gctgaaagaa accatggcat ttatgatgaa ttcagggtaa ttcagaatgg aagtagagta 12540 ggagtaggag actggtgaga gaagctagag tgataaacag ggtgtagagc aagacgttct 12600 ctcaccccaa gatgtgaaat ttggacttta tcttggagat aatagggtta attaagcaca 12660 atatgtatta gctagggtaa agattagttt gttgtaacaa agacatccaa agatacagta 12720 gctgaataag atagagaatt tttctctcaa agaaagtcta agtaggcagc tcagaagtag 12780 tatggctgga agcaacctga tgatattggg acccccaact ttcttcagtc ttgtacccat 12840 catcccctag ttgttgatct cactcacata gttgaaaatc atcatacttc ctgggttcat 12900 atcccagtta tcaagaaagg gtcaagagaa gtcaggctca ttcctttcaa agactctaat 12960 tggaagttaa acacatcaat ccccctcata ttccattgac tagaatttaa tcacatggcc 13020 acaccaagtg caaggaaatc tggaaaatat aatctttatt ccaggtagcc atatgactct 13080 ttaaaattca gaaataatat atttttaaaa tatcattctg gctttggtat aaagaattga 13140 tggtgtgggg tgaggaggac aaaattaagg gttgagaggc tattatttta gttattacaa 13200 gaaatgatgg tgtcatgaat taaggtagac ataggggagt gctgatgagg agctgtgaat 13260 ggattttaga aacacttgag agaatcaata ggacatgatt tagggttgga tttggaaagg 13320 agaagaaagt agaaaagatg atgcctacat ttttcactta ggcaatttgt accattcagt 13380 gaaataggaa acacaggagg aagagcaggt tttggtgtat acaaagagga ggatggatga 13440 cgcatttcgt tttggatctg agatgtctgt ggaacgtcct agtggagatg tccaaaaact 13500 cttctacatg tggttctgag ttcaggacaa agatttgggc tggagataga gatattgaag 13560 gcttatgcat agaaatggca tttgaatcta tagagataaa aagacaaatc agaggaaatg 13620 tgtaaagtga gagaggaaaa gccaagtact gaactggggg gaatacctac atttaaagga 13680 tgcagtagaa agaagctaat aaacaacaga gagcagacta accaaaaggg aagaagaaaa 13740 accaagagaa ttccaccgac tcccaggaga gcatttcaag attgagggaa ttccaccgac 13800 tcccaggaga gcatttcaag attgagggga taggtgttgt gttgaatttt gcagccttga 13860 gaatcaaggg ccagaacaca gcttttagat ttagcaacaa ggagtttggt gatctcagtg 13920 aaagcagctt gatggtgaaa tggaggcaga ggcagattgc aatgagtgaa acagtgaatg 13980 gaaagtgaag aaatgataca gataattctt gctaaaagct tggctgttaa aaggaggaga 14040 gaaacaagac tagctgcaaa gtgagattgg gttgatggag cagttttaaa tctcaaaata 14100 aagagctttg tgcttttttg attatgaaaa taatgtgtta attgtaacta attgaggcaa 14160 tgaaaaaaga taataatatg aaagataaaa atataaaaac cacccagaaa taatgatagc 14220 taccattttg atacaatatt tctacactcc tttctatgta tatatacaga cacagaaatg 14280 cttatatttt tattaaaagg gattgtacta tacctaagct gctttttcta gttagtgata 14340 tatatggaca tctctccatg gcaacgagta attgcagtta tattaagttc atgatatttc 14400 acaataaggg catatctttg ccctttttat ttaatcaatt cttaattggt gaatgtttgt 14460 ttccagtttg ttgttgttat taacaatgtt cccataagca ttcctgtaca aaaatgttca 14520 cacatttgtc tgattttttc ttcaggataa aacccaggag gtagaattgc tgggttgata 14580 gaagagaaag gatgattggc aaattaaagc ttcagtagag ggtacatgcc gagcacaaat 14640 gggatcagcc ctagatacca gaaatggcac tttctcattt ccccttggga caaaagggag 14700 agaggcaata actggtgctg ccagagttaa atttgtacgt ggagtagcag gaaatcattt 14760 gctgaaaatg aaaacagaga tgatggtgta gaggtcctga agagagcaaa gaaaatttga 14820 aattgcggct atcagctatg gaagagagtg ctgaactgga aaacaaaaga agtattgaca 14880 attggtatgc ttgtaatggc accgatttga acgcttgtgc cattgttcac cagcagcact 14940 cagcagccaa gtttggagtt ttgtagcaga aagacaaata agttagggat ttaatatcct 15000 ggcaaaatgg tagacaaaat gaactctgag atccagctgc acagggaagg aagggaagac 15060 gggaagaggt tagataggaa atacaagagt caggagactg gaagatgttg tgaaatttaa 15120 gaacacatag agttggagta aaagtgtaag aaaactagaa gggtaagaga ccggtcagaa 15180 agtaggctat ttgaagttaa cacttcagag gcagagtagt tctgaatggt aacaagaaat 15240 tgagtgtgcc tttgagagta ggttaaaaaa caataggcaa ctttattgta gctacttctg 15300 gaacagaaga ttgtcattaa tagttttaga aaactaaaat atatagcata cttatttgtc 15360 aattaacaaa gaaactatgt atttttaaat gagatttaat gtttattgta gaaaacctgg 15420 aatcagatta ctttggcaag cttgaatcta aattatcagt cataagaaat ttgaatgacc 15480 aagttctctt cattgaccaa ggaaatcggc ctctatttga agatatgact gattctgact 15540 gtagaggtat tttttttaat tcgcaaacat agaaatgact agctacttct tcccattctg 15600 ttttactgct tacattgttc cgtgctagtc ccaatcctca gatgaaaagt cacaggagtg 15660 acaataattt cacttacagg aaactttata aggcatccac gttttttagt tggggtaaaa 15720 aattggatac aataagacat tgctaggggt catgcctctc tgagcctgcc tttgaatcac 15780 caatcccttt attgtgattg cattaactgt ttaaaacctc tatagttgga tgcttaatcc 15840 ctgcttgtta cagctgaaaa tgctgatagt ttaccaggtg tggtggcatc tatctgtaat 15900 cctagctact tgggaggctc aagcaggagg attgcttgag gccaggactt tgaggctgta 15960 gtacactgtg atcgtacctg tgaatagcca ctgcactcca gcctgggtga tatacagacc 16020 ttgtctctaa aattaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaac ttaagaaaag aaaatgatca 16080 agtctactgt gccttccaaa atatgaattc caaatatcaa agttaggctg agttgaagca 16140 gtgaatgtgc attctttaaa aatactgaat acttacctta acatatattt taaatatttt 16200 atttagcatt taaaagttaa aaacaatctt ttagaattca tatctttaaa atactcaaaa 16260 aagttgcagc gtgtgtgttg taatacacat taaactgtgg ggttgtttgt ttgtttgaga 16320 tgcagtttca ctctgtcacc caggctgaag tgcagtgcag tgcagtggtg tgatctcggc 16380 tcactacaac ctccacctcc cacgttcaag cgattctcat gcctcagtct cccgagtagg 16440 tgggattaca ggcatgcacc acttacaccc ggctaatttt tgtattttta gtagagctgg 16500 ggtttcacca tgttggccag gctggtctca aacccctaac ctcaagtgat ctgcctgcct 16560 cagcctccca aacaaacaaa caaccccaca gtttaatatg tgttacaaca cacatgctgc 16620 aacttttatg agtataatga tatagattat aaaaggttgt ttttaacttt taaatgctgg 16680 gattacaggc atgagccact gtgccaggcc tgaactgtgt ttttaaaaat gtctgaccag 16740 ctgtacatag tctcctgcag actggccaag tctcaaagtg ggaacaggtg tattaaggac 16800 tatcctttgg ttaaatttcc gcaaatgttc ctgtgcaaga attcttctaa ctagagttct 16860 catttattat atttatttca gataatgcac cccggaccat atttattata agtatgtata 16920 aagatagcca gcctagaggt atggctgtaa ctatctctgt gaagtgtgag aaaatttcaa 16980 ctctctcctg tgagaacaaa attatttcct ttaaggtaag actgagcctt actttgtttt 17040 caatcatgtt aatataatta atataattag aaatataaca ttatttctaa tgttaatata 17100 agtaatgtaa ttagaaaact caaatatcct cagaccaacc ttttgtctag aacagaaata 17160 acaagaagca gagaaccatt aaaatgaata cttactaaaa attatcaaac tctttaccta 17220 ttgtgataat gatggttttt ctgagcctgt cacagggaag aggagataca acacttgttt 17280 tatgacctgc atctcctgaa caatcagtct ttatacaaat aataatgtag aatacatatg 17340 tgagttatac atttaagaat aacatgtgac tttccagaat gagttctgct atgaagaatg 17400 aagctaatta tccttctata tttctacacc tttgtaaatt atgataatat tttaatccct 17460 agttgttttg ttgctgatcc ttagcctaag tcttagacac aagcttcagc ttccagttga 17520 tgtatgttat ttttaatgtt aatctaattg aataaaagtt atgagatcag ctgtaaaagt 17580 aatgctataa ttatcttcaa gccaggtata aagtatttct ggcctctact ttttctctat 17640 tattctccat tattattctc tattattttt ctctatttcc tccattattg ttagataaac 17700 cacaattaac tatagctaca gactgagcca gtaagagtag ccagggatgc ttacaaattg 17760 gcaatgcttc agaggagaat tccatgtcat gaagactctt tttgagtgga gatttgccaa 17820 taaataaccg ctttcatgcc cacccagtcc ccactgaaag acagttagga tatgacctta 17880 gtgaaggtac caaggggcaa cttggtaggg agaaaaaagc cactctaaaa tataatccaa 17940 gtaagaacag tgcatatgca acagatacag cccccagaca aatccctcag ctatctccct 18000 ccaaccagag tgccacccct tcaggtgaca atttggagtc cccattctag acctgacagg 18060 cagcttagtt atcaaaatag cataagaggc ctgggatgga agggtagggt ggaaagggtt 18120 aagcatgctg ttactgaaca acataattag aagggaagga gatggccaag ctcaagctat 18180 gtgggataga ggaaaactca gctgcagagg cagattcaga aactgggata agtccgaacc 18240 tacaggtgga ttcttgttga gggagactgg tgaaaatgtt aagaagatgg aaataatgct 18300 tggcacttag taggaactgg gcaaatccat atttggggga gcctgaagtt tattcaattt 18360 tgatggccct tttaaagaaa aagaatgtgg ctgggcgtgg tggctcacac ctgtaatccc 18420 agcactttgg gaggccgagg ggggcggatc acctgaagtc aggagttcaa gaccagcctg 18480 accaacatgg agaaacccca tctctactaa aaatacaaaa ttagctgggc gtggtggcat 18540 atgcctgtaa tcccagctac tcgggaggct gaggcaggag aatcttttga acccgggagg 18600 cagaggttgc gatgagccta gatcgtgcca ttgcactcca gcctgggcaa caagagcaaa 18660 actcggtctc aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa gtaaaattac caaaggcata agcttaataa 18720 tttaattcaa attttaattc aaattttaaa aagggcgggg ggtggctgga agagatctgt 18780 gcaaatgagg gaatctgaca tttaagcttc atcagcatca tagcaaatct gcttctggaa 18840 ggaactcaat aaatattagt tggagggggg gagagagtga ggggtggact aggaccagtt 18900 ttagcccttg tctttaatcc cttttcctgc cactaataag gatcttagca gtggttataa 18960 aagtggccta ggttctagat aataagatac aacaggccag gcacagtggc tcatgcctat 19020 aatcccagca ctttgggagg gcaaggcgag tgtctcactt gagatcagga gttcaagacc 19080 agcctggcca gcatggcgat actctgtctc tactaaaaaa aatacaaaaa ttagccaggc 19140 atggtggcat gcacctgtaa tcccagctac tcgtgagcct gaggcagaag aatcgcttga 19200 aaccaggagg tgtaggctgc agtgagctga gatcgcacca ctgcactcca gcctgggcga 19260 cagaatgaga ctttgtctca aaaaaagaaa aagatacaac aggctaccct tatgtgctca 19320 cctttcactg ttgattacta gctataaagt cctataaagt tctttggtca agaaccttga 19380 caacactaag agggatttgc tttgagaggt tactgtcagt gtctgtttca tatatataca 19440 tatacatgta tatatgtatc tatatccagg cttggccagg gttccctcag actttccagt 19500 gcacttggga gatgttaggt caatatcaac tttccctgga ttcagattca accccttctg 19560 atgtaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaagaaaga aatccctttc cccttggagc actcaagttt 19620 caccaggtag ggctttccaa gttgggggtt ctccaaggtc attgggattg ctttcacatc 19680 catttgctat gtaccttccc tatgatggct gggagtggtc aacatcaaaa ctaggaaagc 19740 tactgcccaa ggatgtcctt acctctattc tgaaatgtgc aataagtgtg attaaagaga 19800 ttgcctgttc tacctatcca cactctcgct ttcaactgta actttctttt tttctttttt 19860 tctttttttc tttttttttg aaacggagtc tcgctctgtc gcccaggcta gagtgcagtg 19920 gcacgatctc agctcactgc aagctctgcc tcccgggttc acgccattct cctgcctcac 19980 cctcccaagc agctgggact acaggcgcct gccaccatgc ccagctaatt ttttgtattt 20040 ttagtagaga cggggtttca ccgtgttagc caggatggtc tcgatctcct gaacttgtga 20100 tccgcccgcc tcagcctccc aaagtgctgg gattacaggc gtgagccatc gcacccggct 20160 caactgtaac tttctatact ggttcatctt cccctgtaat gttactagag cttttgaagt 20220 tttggctatg gattatttct catttataca ttagatttca gattagttcc aaattgatgc 20280 ccacagctta gggtctcttc ctaaattgta tattgtagac agctgcagaa gtgggtgcca 20340 ataggggaac tagtttatac tttcatcaac ttaggaccca cacttgttga taaagaacaa 20400 aggtcaagag ttatgactac tgattccaca actgattgag aagttggagg taaccccgtg 20460 acctctgcca tccagagtct ttcaggctct ttgaaggatg aagaaatgct attttaattt 20520 tggaggtttc tctatcagtg cttaggatca tgggaatctg tgctgccatg aggccaaaat 20580 taagtccaaa acatctactg gttccaggat taacatggaa gaaccttagg tggtgcccac 20640 atgttctgat ccatcctgca aaatagacat gctgcactaa caggaaaagt gcaggcagca 20700 ctaccagttg gataacctgc aagattatag tttcaagtaa tctaaccatt tctcacaaga 20760 ccctattctg tgactgaaac atacaagaat ctgcatttgg ccttctaagg cagggcccag 20820 ccaaggagac catattcagg acagaaattc aagactacta tggaactgga gtgcttggca 20880 ggaagacaga gtcaaggact gccaactgag ccaatacagc aggcttacac aggaacccag 20940 ggcctagccc tacaacaatt attgggtcta ttcactgtaa gttttaattt caggctccac 21000 tgaaagagta agctaagatt cctggcactt tctgtctctc tcacagttgg ctcagaaatg 21060 agaactggcc aggccaggca tggtggctta cacctggaat cccagcactt tgggaggccg 21120 aagtgggagg gtcacttgag gccaggagtt caggaccagc ctaggcaaca aagtgagata 21180 ccccctgacc ccttctctac aaaaataaat tttaaaaatt agccaaatgt ggtggtgtat 21240 acttacagtc ccagctactc aggaggctga ggcaggggga ttgcttgagc ccaggaattc 21300 aaggctgcag tgagctatga tttcaccact gcacttctgg ctgggcaaca gagcgagacc 21360 ctgtctcaaa gcaaaaagaa aaagaaacta gaactagcct aagtttgtgg gaggaggtca 21420 tcatcgtctt tagccgtgaa tggttattat agaggacaga aattgacatt agcccaaaaa 21480 gcttgtggtc tttgctggaa ctctacttaa tcttgagcaa atgtggacac cactcaatgg 21540 gagaggagag aagtaagctg tttgatgtat aggggaaaac tagaggcctg gaactgaata 21600 tgcatcccat gacagggaga ataggagatt cggagttaag aaggagagga ggtcagtact 21660 gctgttcaga gatttttttt atgtaactct tgagaagcaa aactactttt gttctgtttg 21720 gtaatatact tcaaaacaaa cttcatatat tcaaattgtt catgtcctga aataattagg 21780 taatgttttt ttctctatag gaaatgaatc ctcctgataa catcaaggat acaaaaagtg 21840 acatcatatt ctttcagaga agtgtcccag gacatgataa taagatgcaa tttgaatctt 21900 catcatacga aggatacttt ctagcttgtg aaaaagagag agaccttttt aaactcattt 21960 tgaaaaaaga ggatgaattg ggggatagat ctataatgtt cactgttcaa aacgaagact 22020 agctattaaa atttcatgcc gggcgcagtg gctcacgcct gtaatcccag ccctttggga 22080 ggctgaggcg ggcagatcac cagaggtcag gtgttcaaga ccagcctgac caacatggtg 22140 aaacctcatc tctactaaaa atacaaaaaa ttagctgagt gtagtgacgc atgccctcaa 22200 tcccagctac tcaagaggct gaggcaggag aatcacttgc actccggagg tagaggttgt 22260 ggtgagccga gattgcacca ttgcgctcta gcctgggcaa caacagcaaa actccatctc 22320 aaaaaataaa ataaataaat aaacaaataa aaaattcata atgtgaactg tctgaatttt 22380 tatgtttaga aagattatga gattattagt ctataattgt aatggtgaaa taaaataaat 22440 actagtcttg aaaaacatca ttaagaaatg aatgaacttt cacaaaagca aacaaacaga 22500 ctttccctta tttaagtgaa taaaataaaa taaaataaaa taatgtttaa aaaattcata 22560 gtttgaaaac attctacatt gttaattggc atattaatta tacttaatat aattattttt 22620 aaatcttttg ggttattagt cctaatgaca aaagatattg atatttgaac tttctaattt 22680 ttaagaatat cgttaaacca tcaatatttt tataaggagg ccacttcact tgacaaattt 22740 ctgaatttcc tccaaagtca gtatattttt aaaattcagt ttgatcctga atccagcaat 22800 atataaaagg gattatatac tctggccaac tgacattcat cctaggaatg caaagatggt 22860 ttaatatcct aaaatcaatt aacataacat actatattaa taaagtatca aaacagtatt 22920 ctcatctttt tttctttttt cacaattcct tggttacact atcatctcaa tagatgcaga 22980 aaaagcattt gacaaaatcc aattcataat aaaaattctc aaacttgaaa gagaacatca 23040 taaaggcatc tatgaaaaac ctacagctaa tatcatactt aacgatgaaa aactgaatta 23100 ttttacccta agatcaagaa taatgcaagc atgtcagctc ttgcaacttc tattcaacat 23160 tgtactggag gttctagcca gagcaaccat acaataaata aaaataaaag gcacccagat 23220 tagaaaggaa gtctttattt gcagacaaca tggttcttta tgcagaaaac cgtcaggaat 23280 acacacacat gttagaacta ataagttcag caaggttgca ggttgcaata tcaatatgca 23340 aaaatacatt gaaggctggg ctcagtggag atggcatgta cctttcgtcc cagctacttg 23400 ggaggctgag gtaggaggat cacttgaggt gaggagtttg aggctatagt gcaatgtgat 23460 cttgcctgtg aatagccact gcactcgagc ctaggcaaca aagtgagacc ccgtctccaa 23520 aaaaaaaatg gtatattggt atttctgtat atgaacaatg aatgatctga aaacaagaaa 23580 attccattca cgatggtatt aaaaaaataa aatacaaata aatttagcaa aataattata 23640 aaacttgtac atcgaaaatt tcaaagcatt ctgagggaaa ttaaagatga tctaaataat 23700 tggagagaca ttctatgatc actgattgga aaactcattc aatattgtta agataacaat 23760 tgtccccaaa ttgatgcatg cattcaattt agtcttcatc aaaattccag cagggttttt 23820 gcagaaattg acaagctgta cccaaaatgt atatggaaat gaaaa 23865 <210> SEQ ID NO 5 <211> LENGTH: 22 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: PCR Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 5 aaggaattgt ctcccagtgc at 22 <210> SEQ ID NO 6 <211> LENGTH: 18 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: PCR Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 6 caggtggcag ccgcttta 18 <210> SEQ ID NO 7 <211> LENGTH: 22 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: PCR Probe <400> SEQUENCE: 7 ttgccctcct ggctgccaac tc 22 <210> SEQ ID NO 8 <211> LENGTH: 19 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: PCR Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 8 gaaggtgaag gtcggagtc 19 <210> SEQ ID NO 9 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: PCR Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 9 gaagatggtg atgggatttc 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 10 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: PCR Probe <400> SEQUENCE: 10 caagcttccc gttctcagcc 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 11 <211> LENGTH: 1102 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (178)...(759) <400> SEQUENCE: 11 gcctggacag tcagcaagga attgtctccc agtgcatttt gccctcctgg ctgccaactc 60 tggctgctaa agcggctgcc acctgctgca gtctacacag cttcgggaag aggaaaggaa 120 cctcagacct tccagatcgc ttcctctcgc aacaaactat ttgtcgcagg aataaag 177 atg gct gct gaa cca gta gaa gac aat tgc atc aac ttt gtg gca atg 225 Met Ala Ala Glu Pro Val Glu Asp Asn Cys Ile Asn Phe Val Ala Met 1 5 10 15 aaa ttt att gac aat acg ctt tac ttt ata gct gaa gat gat gaa aac 273 Lys Phe Ile Asp Asn Thr Leu Tyr Phe Ile Ala Glu Asp Asp Glu Asn 20 25 30 ctg gaa tca gat tac ttt ggc aag ctt gaa tct aaa tta tca gtc ata 321 Leu Glu Ser Asp Tyr Phe Gly Lys Leu Glu Ser Lys Leu Ser Val Ile 35 40 45 aga aat ttg aat gac caa gtt ctc ttc att gac caa gga aat cgg cct 369 Arg Asn Leu Asn Asp Gln Val Leu Phe Ile Asp Gln Gly Asn Arg Pro 50 55 60 cta ttt gaa gat atg act gat tct gac tgt aga gat aat gca ccc cgg 417 Leu Phe Glu Asp Met Thr Asp Ser Asp Cys Arg Asp Asn Ala Pro Arg 65 70 75 80 acc ata ttt att ata agt atg tat aaa gat agc cag cct aga ggt atg 465 Thr Ile Phe Ile Ile Ser Met Tyr Lys Asp Ser Gln Pro Arg Gly Met 85 90 95 gct gta act atc tct gtg aag tgt gag aaa att tca act ctc tcc tgt 513 Ala Val Thr Ile Ser Val Lys Cys Glu Lys Ile Ser Thr Leu Ser Cys 100 105 110 gag aac aaa att att tcc ttt aag gaa atg aat cct cct gat aac atc 561 Glu Asn Lys Ile Ile Ser Phe Lys Glu Met Asn Pro Pro Asp Asn Ile 115 120 125 aag gat aca aaa agt gac atc ata ttc ttt cag aga agt gtc cca gga 609 Lys Asp Thr Lys Ser Asp Ile Ile Phe Phe Gln Arg Ser Val Pro Gly 130 135 140 cat gat aat aag atg caa ttt gaa tct tca tca tac gaa gga tac ttt 657 His Asp Asn Lys Met Gln Phe Glu Ser Ser Ser Tyr Glu Gly Tyr Phe 145 150 155 160 cta gct tgt gaa aaa gag aga gac ctt ttt aaa ctc att ttg aaa aaa 705 Leu Ala Cys Glu Lys Glu Arg Asp Leu Phe Lys Leu Ile Leu Lys Lys 165 170 175 gag gat gaa ttg ggg gat aga tct ata atg ttc act gtt caa aac gaa 753 Glu Asp Glu Leu Gly Asp Arg Ser Ile Met Phe Thr Val Gln Asn Glu 180 185 190 gac tag ctattaaaat ttcatgccgg gcgcagtggc tcacgcctgt aatcccagcc 809 Asp ctttgggagg ctgaggcggg cagatcacca gaggtcaggt gttcaagacc agcctgacca 869 acatggtgaa acctcatctc tactaaaaat actaaaaatt agctgagtgt agtgacgcat 929 gccctcaatc ccagctactc aagaggctga ggcaggagaa tcacttgcac tccggaggta 989 gaggttgtgg tgagccgaga ttgcaccatt gcgctctagc ctgggcaaca acagcaaaac 1049 tccatctcaa aaaataaaat aaataaataa acaaataaaa aattcataat gtg 1102 <210> SEQ ID NO 12 <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 12 000 <210> SEQ ID NO 13 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 13 tatctctaca gtcagaatca 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 14 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 14 caattgtctt ctactggttc 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 15 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 15 aatttagatt caagcttgcc 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 16 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 16 atgtcctggg acacttctct 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 17 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 17 gccgctttag cagccagagt 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 18 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 18 cagcaggtgg cagccgcttt 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 19 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 19 tctgattcca ggttttcatc 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 20 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 20 gctatcttta tacatactta 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 21 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 21 tccttgctga ctgtccaggc 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 22 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 22 tttcacaagc tagaaagtat 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 23 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 23 atgcaattgt cttctactgg 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 24 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 24 catcatcttc agctataaag 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 25 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 25 cctcttcccg aagctgtgta 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 26 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 26 aggaaataat tttgttctca 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 27 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 27 ctctaggctg gctatcttta 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 28 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 28 tgaaattttc tcacacttca 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 29 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 29 gccatcttta ttcctgcgac 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 30 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 30 gagacaattc cttgctgact 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 31 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 31 aatctgattc caggttttca 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 32 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 32 catcttatta tcatgtcctg 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 33 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 33 aggtctgagg ttcctttcct 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 34 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 34 cttctactgg ttcagcagcc 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 35 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 35 tagttacagc catacctcta 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 36 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 36 ttcatcatct tcagctataa 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 37 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 37 agtatccttc gtatgatgaa 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 38 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 38 ccatctttat tcctgcgaca 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 39 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 39 tgttgcgaga ggaagcgatc 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 40 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 40 agactgcagc aggtggcagc 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 41 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 41 agctagaaag tatccttcgt 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 42 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 42 aattgcatct tattatcatg 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 43 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 43 gtcatatctt caaatagagg 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 44 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 44 aggagggcaa aatgcactgg 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 45 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 45 tttccttggt caatgaagag 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 46 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 46 cgttttgaac agtgaacatt 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 47 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 47 tgcgacaaat agtttgttgc 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 48 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 48 tcttattatc atgtcctggg 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 49 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 49 caaatagttt gttgcgagag 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 50 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 50 cacaaagttg atgcaattgt 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 51 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 51 cattgccaca aagttgatgc 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 52 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 52 caataaattt cattgccaca 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 53 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 53 tataaagtaa agcgtattgt 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 54 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 54 caagcttgcc aaagtaatct 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 55 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 55 tatgactgat aatttagatt 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 56 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 56 aatttcttat gactgataat 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 57 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 57 attcaaattt cttatgactg 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 58 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 58 acttggtcat tcaaatttct 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 59 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 59 atgaagagaa cttggtcatt 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 60 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 60 gtcagaatca gtcatatctt 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 61 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 61 ttataataaa tatggtccgg 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 62 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 62 cacttcacag agatagttac 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 63 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 63 ctcacaggag agagttgaaa 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 64 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 64 gattcatttc cttaaaggaa 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 65 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 65 gttatcagga ggattcattt 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 66 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 66 gtatccttga tgttatcagg 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 67 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 67 aagaatatga tgtcactttt 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 68 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 68 tgaaagaata tgatgtcact 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 69 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 69 cttctctgaa agaatatgat 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 70 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 70 cacttctctg aaagaatatg 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 71 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 71 tgatgaagat tcaaattgca 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 72 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 72 gtatgatgaa gattcaaatt 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 73 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 73 agctagtctt cgttttgaac 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 74 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 74 attttaatag ctagtcttcg 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 75 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 75 tgtccaggca gtcgccaggg 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 76 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 76 gctgactgtc caggcagtcg 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 77 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 77 tgttcattga atttggcaat 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 78 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 78 aatacatccc ttagcacttg 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 79 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 79 atctttattc ctaatgaaag 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 80 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 80 ttagccttac ctataaagta 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 81 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 81 tcagtcttac cttaaaggaa 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 82 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 82 catcaactgg aagctgaagc 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 83 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 83 ctaagttgat gaaagtataa 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 84 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Antisense Oligonucleotide <400> SEQUENCE: 84 gattcatttc ctatagagaa 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 85 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 85 gaaccagtag aagacaattg 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 86 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 86 agagaagtgt cccaggacat 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 87 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 87 taagtatgta taaagatagc 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 88 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 88 atactttcta gcttgtgaaa 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 89 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 89 ccagtagaag acaattgcat 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 90 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 90 tacacagctt cgggaagagg 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 91 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 91 taaagatagc cagcctagag 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 92 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 92 tgaagtgtga gaaaatttca 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 93 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 93 agtcagcaag gaattgtctc 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 94 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 94 ggctgctgaa ccagtagaag 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 95 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 95 ttcatcatac gaaggatact 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 96 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 96 gctgccacct gctgcagtct 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 97 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 97 acgaaggata ctttctagct 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 98 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 98 aatgttcact gttcaaaacg 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 99 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 99 gcaacaaact atttgtcgca 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 100 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 100 cccaggacat gataataaga 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 101 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 101 acaattgcat caactttgtg 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 102 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 102 gcatcaactt tgtggcaatg 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 103 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 103 tgtggcaatg aaatttattg 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 104 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 104 acaatacgct ttactttata 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 105 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 105 agattacttt ggcaagcttg 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 106 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 106 aatctaaatt atcagtcata 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 107 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 107 cagtcataag aaatttgaat 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 108 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 108 agaaatttga atgaccaagt 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 109 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 109 aatgaccaag ttctcttcat 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 110 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 110 aagatatgac tgattctgac 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 111 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 111 ccggaccata tttattataa 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 112 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 112 gtaactatct ctgtgaagtg 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 113 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 113 tttcaactct ctcctgtgag 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 114 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 114 ttcctttaag gaaatgaatc 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 115 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 115 aaatgaatcc tcctgataac 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 116 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 116 cctgataaca tcaaggatac 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 117 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 117 aaaagtgaca tcatattctt 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 118 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 118 agtgacatca tattctttca 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 119 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 119 atcatattct ttcagagaag 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 120 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 120 catattcttt cagagaagtg 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 121 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 121 tgcaatttga atcttcatca 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 122 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 122 aatttgaatc ttcatcatac 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 123 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 123 gttcaaaacg aagactagct 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 124 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 124 cgaagactag ctattaaaat 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 125 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 125 ccctggcgac tgcctggaca 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 126 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 126 cgactgcctg gacagtcagc 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 127 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 127 attgccaaat tcaatgaaca 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 128 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 128 caagtgctaa gggatgtatt 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 129 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 129 ttcctttaag gtaagactga 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 130 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: H. sapiens <220> FEATURE: <400> SEQUENCE: 130 gcttcagctt ccagttgatg 20 

What is claimed is:
 1. A compound 8 to 80 nucleobases in length targeted to a nucleic acid molecule encoding Interleukin 18, wherein said compound specifically hybridizes with said nucleic acid molecule encoding Interleukin 18 (SEQ ID NO: 4) and inhibits the expression of Interleukin
 18. 2. The compound of claim 1 comprising 12 to 50 nucleobases in length.
 3. The compound of claim 2 comprising 15 to 30 nucleobases in length.
 4. The compound of claim 1 comprising an oligonucleotide.
 5. The compound of claim 4 comprising an antisense oligonucleotide.
 6. The compound of claim 4 comprising a DNA oligonucleotide.
 7. The compound of claim 4 comprising an RNA oligonucleotide.
 8. The compound of claim 4 comprising a chimeric oligonucleotide.
 9. The compound of claim 4 wherein at least a portion of said compound hybridizes with RNA to form an oligonucleotide-RNA duplex.
 10. The compound of claim 1 having at least 70% complementarity with a nucleic acid molecule encoding Interleukin 18 (SEQ ID NO: 4) said compound specifically hybridizing to and inhibiting the expression of Interleukin
 18. 11. The compound of claim 1 having at least 80% complementarity with a nucleic acid molecule encoding Interleukin 18 (SEQ ID NO: 4) said compound specifically hybridizing to and inhibiting the expression of Interleukin
 18. 12. The compound of claim 1 having at least 90% complementarity with a nucleic acid molecule encoding Interleukin 18 (SEQ ID NO: 4) said compound specifically hybridizing to and inhibiting the expression of Interleukin
 18. 13. The compound of claim 1 having at least 95% complementarity with a nucleic acid molecule encoding Interleukin 18 (SEQ ID NO: 4) said compound specifically hybridizing to and inhibiting the expression of Interleukin
 18. 14. The compound of claim 1 having at least one modified internucleoside linkage, sugar moiety, or nucleobase.
 15. The compound of claim 1 having at least one 2′-O-methoxyethyl sugar moiety.
 16. The compound of claim 1 having at least one phosphorothioate internucleoside linkage.
 17. The compound of claim 1 having at least one 5-methylcytosine.
 18. A method of inhibiting the expression of Interleukin 18 in cells or tissues comprising contacting said cells or tissues with the compound of claim 1 so that expression of Interleukin 18 is inhibited.
 19. A method of screening for a modulator of Interleukin 18, the method comprising the steps of: a. contacting a preferred target segment of a nucleic acid molecule encoding Interleukin 18 with one or more candidate modulators of Interleukin 18, and b. identifying one or more modulators of Interleukin 18 expression which modulate the expression of Interleukin
 18. 20. The method of claim 19 wherein the modulator of Interleukin 18 expression comprises an oligonucleotide, an antisense oligonucleotide, a DNA oligonucleotide, an RNA oligonucleotide, an RNA oligonucleotide having at least a portion of said RNA oligonucleotide capable of hybridizing with RNA to form an oligonucleotide-RNA duplex, or a chimeric oligonucleotide.
 21. A diagnostic method for identifying a disease state comprising identifying the presence of Interleukin 18 in a sample using at least one of the primers comprising SEQ ID NOs: 5 or 6, or the probe comprising SEQ ID NO:
 7. 22. A kit or assay device comprising the compound of claim
 1. 23. A method of treating an animal having a disease or condition associated with Interleukin 18 comprising administering to said animal a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of the compound of claim 1 so that expression of Interleukin 18 is inhibited.
 24. The method of claim 23 wherein the disease or condition is an autoimmune disorder. 